By Bob Ritter, Publisher of Washington CEO Magazine

The region with the smartest people wins.

That's the conclusion of a growing library of research suggesting that the economic fortunes of metropolitan regions depend on attracting -- and keeping -- people capable of driving the innovation that creates jobs, bolsters economic growth and provides resources to pay for civic amenities.

What's more, the competition for the best and brightest has gone global. The Seattle metro region, with strong assets in aerospace, technology and medical research, ranks as one of the world's innovation leaders. But it's in a fierce battle for talent with Austin, Silicon Valley and Boston as well as Helsinki, Paris, Toronto, Osaka, Sydney, Vancouver, B.C., and more.

Smart, young people understand that their talents are in high demand. And, while progressive companies and good salaries are important, they consider quality of life an equal priority. They don't want to be stuck in traffic. They want to live close to work and places where they can meet, socialize and share ideas with other smart innovators of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They care deeply about issues of sustainability and natural settings. And they are not concerned about urban density. In fact, they thrive in it.

Most important, if they don't see these issues being addressed, they will take their talent elsewhere, thank you, leaving their former community grappling to retain a foothold in increasingly turbulent economic terrain.

Fortunately for the Seattle metro region -- King, Pierce and Snohomish counties -- progressive leaders from business, government, academia and the not-for-profit community are recognizing that quality urban communities are critical to our economic viability -- locally, regionally and statewide. They understand the need for cities and suburbs  to work together to find solutions.

The Cascade Land Conservancy, the Puget Sound Regional Council, Seattle Foundation, Puget Sound Partnership and mayors Greg Nickels of Seattle and Grant Degginger of Bellevue are closely examining research provided by the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Program.

Bruce Katz, who heads the Brookings effort to reform federal policy relating to America's urban centers, cites four "crucial drivers" of productive, inclusive and sustainable growth. He says local leaders must:

• Take steps to ramp up their regions' ability to invent and commercialize new products, processes and business models.
• Work passionately on ways to enhance the levels of education and training necessary to shape the human capital that provides innovation, good jobs and higher household incomes.
• Provide the transportation, telecommunications and energy distribution networks necessary to move people, goods and ideas quickly.

• And, because quality places matter, it's incumbent that they provide public amenities that promote human connectivity, environmental assets and distinctive neighborhoods, downtowns and waterfronts.

The Seattle metro region need only look as far as Denver and its Metro Mayor's Council for a prime example of how a city, its suburbs and the business community can work together to break the cycle of bureaucracy, parochialism, fringe politics and false competition that has stifled solutions along the I-5 and I-405 corridors.

The council unites the mayors of 32 Denver metro area cities to find solutions to issues such as transportation, economic development and water. In 2004, spurred on by this coalition of elected leaders, the region voted in favor of a $5 billion plan to build 100 miles of new light rail, commuter rail and bus rapid transit lanes serving 57 new stations. Denver and its suburbs changed zoning laws to allow greater density and taller development near rail stations, allowing more people and more businesses to enjoy the benefits.

Seattle's counterpart is still in its infancy, but it's driven by people and organizations who understand what's at stake. The Seattle metro region provides the economic backbone of our state: 67.1 percent of its gross domestic product; 87.5 percent of its export value; 91.5 percent of its high technology employment; and 59.2 percent of personal income.

Our region can no longer afford to be bogged down by indecisiveness if we want to ensure a future that is economically sound, environmentally conscious and socially aware. The competition -- both domestic and global -- makes action imperative.