Kelly signs executive order ending “border war” with Missouri over jobs in Kansas City area

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly has signed an executive order aimed at ending a long-standing “border war” with Missouri over existing jobs in the Kansas City area, but the order that Kelly issued Friday suggests the truce may be shaky.

Kelly’s order pledges that Kansas won’t use economic development incentives to lure existing jobs across the border in the Kansas City area.  Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed a law in June pledging the same for his state.

Kelly’s order notes that local governments in Missouri still can offer more generous incentives than those in Kansas and says she might rescind her order if they don’t stop.

The nonprofit Hall Foundation estimates the states have used $335 million in incentives since 2011 to move more than 12,000 existing jobs in the area.

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