The Sacramento Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization (SACTO) and Valley Vision launched a new regional and collaborative economic development initiative in early January.

Partnership for Prosperity was established to identify a clear vision and focus for the Sacramento region with which local organizations and jurisdictions can align.

At the end of the one-year project, the results will take the form of an action plan designed to serve as a guide for the development of the region by the year 2020 into a high-performance economy to advance it to the next level of competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Roger Valine, President & CEO of Vision Service Plan has been selected as the Chair. Valine leads the nation's largest provider of eye care wellness benefits and the fastest-growing provider of eye care benefits in the nation.

Recruitment is ongoing during the month of January to enlist approximately 30 key organizations that span the region's economic development interests for involvement in the Initiative's Leadership Council. Representatives from human resources and workforce education, transportation, ethnic communities, utilities, builders/realtors and educational institutions are being asked to "sign-on" in support of "Partnership for Prosperity" to become a very important part of shaping and leading the process.

The first meeting of the Leadership Council is planned for February. For more information, contact the Metro Chamber at (916) 552-6808 or www.metrochamber.org