Partnership for Prosperity

In 2005, the Metro Chamber board of directors called for the development of a strategy to guide our region’s economy, just as Blueprint developed a regional strategy to guide transportation and land use. Working with SACTO and Valley Vision, the Metro Chamber helped convene a broad group of civic leaders to develop Partnership for Prosperity, which identified initiatives in three areas: Developing Business, Developing People and Developing Place.

The Metro Chamber has a significant role in the development and implementation of each of these areas. The Business Development strategy includes the Metro Chamber’s regional Business Retention and Expansion strategy as its centerpiece. LEED, the Metro Chamber’s affiliate dedicated to workforce development and education, has been identified as the key organization to implement strategies to align our region’s educational resources to meet our region’s current and future workforce needs.

Matt Mahood has played a key role in the development of the Developing Place strategy. SACTO and Sacramento Regional Research Institute are in the process of developing a regional asset map of civic infrastructure to assess gaps and current projects worthy of support. The task force may also have a role in the efforts to develop a proposal for a new sports and entertainment facility, pending the outcome of Measures Q & R.

Prospective Priorities for 2007

• Developing Business: Implement Metro-Pulse, a Regional Business Retention and Expansion tool
• Developing People: Work with Valley Vision and LEED to “asset map” region’s industry segments, workforce needs and educational resources.
• Developing Place: Work with SACTO and SRRI to support civic infrastructure “asset map” and develop proposal for sports and entertainment facility.