Seeking to shape the region's economic future for the better, a coalition of business, tourism and education groups is collaborating to identify a regional economic vision.

The group, called the Partnership for Prosperity, aims to create what leaders call an "action plan" around which businesses and institutions can organize.

"You can't shape market forces. But you can look at the assets you have and align them so that major stakeholders are focused on one or two or three key things," said Matt Mahood, head of the Sacramento Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, which, along with the Sacramento Area Commerce and Trade Organization and Valley Vision, is spearheading the effort.

Collaboration among leaders from different industries is not new. In many ways, that's what the chamber and SACTO have done for years.

But what organizers of the partnership say is unique is the wide and extensive participation from different sectors of the region, ranging from the Los Rios Community College District, to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, to the Arts & Business Council.

No specific goals have been set so far, organizers say. But Mahood pointed to Austin, Texas, as an example of a region in which leaders collaborated on an economic vision - specifically, attracting "creative" jobs - and then implemented that goal.

Chairing the Sacramento effort will be Roger Valine, president and chief executive officer of Rancho Cordova-based Vision Service Plan.

Valine said he wants to see the region plan collaboratively, instead of different counties and cities competing against each other.

"We want to make this a much better place to live and work," he said.