FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2007
Contact: Rick Olson, 206-971-3050, rolson@psrc.org

SEATTLE—  The national Alliance for Regional Stewardship announced that the central Puget Sound region, along with Pittsburgh and the San Fernando Valley, is the winner of the 2006 cash prize for effective regional stewardship. The awards were announced at the annual meeting of the ARS in Chicago.

The Puget Sound region received the recognition through Prosperity Partnership, a growing coalition of over 170 government, business, labor and community organizations within King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties dedicated to developing and implementing a common economic strategy. The home of Prosperity Partnership is the Puget Sound Regional Council.

"The Prosperity Partnership's Regional Economic Strategy includes initiatives to ensure a well-educated and adaptable work force, build an effective transportation system, cultivate a strong civic and non-profit community, and preserve and improve the environment," said ARS, in announcing this year's awards.

"Our financial awards recognize individual regional efforts and confirm our underlying philosophy that metropolitan and rural communities can meet regional challenges without the political pitfalls of regional government," says David Thornburgh, ARS's new chief executive officer.

The $10,000 prizes, funded by the Morgan Family Foundation of Los Altos, California, are awarded to regions for their capacity to work effectively on the four ARS principles of regional stewardship - innovative economy, livable community, social inclusion, and collaborative governance. "In every day life, these translate into meaningful jobs, great places to live and work, building trust and relationships among all sectors of the community, and working together to solve problems," said Becky Morgan, President of the foundation. "As regional stewards these leaders are integrators, connectors, and motivators, who are taking responsibility for the future of their regions," Morgan said.

"On behalf of the Puget Sound region, I would like to express gratitude to ARS and the Morgan Foundation for recognizing the vital role of effective regional stewardship in building strong economies and livable communities through social inclusion and collaborative governance throughout the nation," said Bob Drewel, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Regional Council. "Prosperity Partnership is one big way we're demonstrating that regional collaboration is alive and well, and making a difference, here in the Northwest."

More information on Prosperity Partnership and the Puget Sound Regional Council is available on the web at www.psrc.org. More information on the Alliance for Regional Stewardship is online at www.regionalstewardship.org.

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