We like, for several reasons, a pact approved by both the Marquette City Commission and Marquette County Board of Commissioners earlier this week.

This so-called interlocal agreement established the Superior Trade Corridor Next Michigan Development Corporation.

It will be a cooperative development zone within Marquette and Delta counties that’s expected to allow the areas, located near transportation hubs, to use tax incentives to support business growth, particularly multi-modal businesses.

A front page story penned by Mining Journal Staff Writer Christie Bleck had full details.

The Next Michigan Development Corporation will be a tool for economic growth by providing the ability to set up local development finance authorities and tax abatements.

Further, the corporation will work in tandem with the SmartZone satellite being put together in Marquette now, although the SmartZone is more focused on high-tech developments.

We like what’s going on here for a couple of reasons: First, anything that has the very real possibility of bringing in new developments, along with their jobs, to this area must be considered positive. Second, seeing local units of government that have had differences in the past work together for a common good is also a positive.

We look forward to watching this project come together, and to further cooperation between elected officials, when and where that’s appropriate.