This document discusses the importance of metropolitan areas and strategies for economic development at the metropolitan level. It notes that the top 100 metropolitan areas account for 75% of US GDP and over half the population, concentrating national assets. Case studies are presented of metropolitan economic development plans in Portland, Denver, Northeast Ohio, Los Angeles, Houston and New York that focus on areas like exports, transportation infrastructure, manufacturing networks and innovation districts. The document outlines steps for other metropolitan areas to develop their own economic development strategies, including creating networks of stakeholders, setting a vision through metrics, and identifying a "game changer" project or intervention that could fundamentally alter the region's economic profile.