The Hookset Town Council has joined a growing list of area towns in support of Metro Center, a regional economic development initiative promoting the greater Manchester area as a desirable place to live, work and play.

Metro Center, a program that grew out of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, allies 14 area communities to discuss issues of regional impact, and market the greater Manchester area as a hot spot in which to live and do business, said Robin Comstock, president and chief operations officer of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

“We think what affects one community in this area really affects all the communities,” Comstock told the Hooksett Town Council at its Wednesday, Dec. 6, meeting.

The council voted 5-1 to sign a nonbinding proclamation in support of Metro Center at the meeting. Councilor Jason Hyde cast the lone dissenting vote.

The state Department of Resources and the Southern New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission are also partners in the Metro Center, along with towns including Raymond, Derry, Londonderry, Goffstown and Bedford.

Southern New Hampshire Planning Commission Executive Director David Preece said Metro Center allows for dialogues between participating towns that may not have previously existed.

Such talks will be critical, he said, if municipalities want to compete for new businesses with greater Boston.

“I think together we can create a very strong economic engine that can bring jobs back from Massachusetts,” he said.