Ontario's Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAATs) have established productive links with employers and the result is practical training that leads to rewarding work for graduates. This practical success is not being adequately recognized in a crucial debate that focuses on strategies for economic development. It is important for the CAATs to promote a greater awareness of the links between their programs and broader goals such as economic prosperity. In this paper, the authors discuss the current orientation of government economic strategies and its potential for supporting the CAATs. They argue that there are three measures of economic performance that are central to the role that CAATs play: (1) return on investment in education; (2) productivity; and (3) skill shortages. Using these measures, the CAATs can make a strong case for their role in the economic strategies. The authors also discuss the context of decision-making, measurement issues and opportunities for the colleges as they raise their profile.