Luken said most of the area's economic development efforts come from county commissioners, the city and the chamber of commerce working together.

But the mayor told a group of business leaders from Evendale and Woodlawn at a Tuesday luncheon of the Evendale Chamber of Commerce that he would like to see more partnerships to attract new businesses.

For example, Luken said he was in Munich, Germany, working to attract a business to Cincinnati, and the business ended up in Reading instead.

"We have to start viewing these things as wins," he said. "If you win in Evendale, you win in Cincinnati."

Luken said he doesn't mind working with suburbs to help them attract businesses if they don't mind helping the city do the same.

"We're both looking for more jobs for our people," he said. "It's not just about more taxes, but more jobs for people. We're all going to benefit, even if it doesn't come to my city."

Evendale Mayor Don Apking welcomed Luken's remarks, agreeing that economic alliances between the city and suburbs would be good.

He said there are problems with economic development when another city, village or township offers companies tax incentives to move, and the community loses when the company leaves.

"We need to be working on building attractions within the villages and townships in Hamilton County," he said.

E-mail-jmckinney@enquirer.com