Those who believe that Cincinnati is chronically too down on itself - and that our city looks pretty good when viewed by outsiders - have a new piece of evidence to present:

Greater Cincinnati has been chosen as one of the nation's "most livable" cities by the national consortium Partners for Livable Communities. Local leaders will receive the award in an April 20 event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., keynoted by U.S. Treasury Secretary John Snow.

Details then will appear on the organization's Web site (www.livable.com) and in a special supplement in USA Today.

The Queen City rated high in such categories as New Economy, labor force preparedness, quality of neighborhoods, and private/public/community partnerships, and investments in the creative community.

Partners for Livable Communities focused this year on that last aspect - cities' creative activities. Cincinnati's rich artistic heritage - which continues with vibrant, cutting-edge advances such as the new Contemporary Arts Center downtown - no doubt gave it a boost in the organization's rankings.

This may not be as splashy as Esquire magazine naming Cincinnati one of its Top 10 "cities that rock" last week, but it is the kind of substantive accolade that could have a long-term impact to Cincinnati's benefit.

Spurred by the National Endowment for the Arts, the organization began in 1977 to focus on fostering the renewal of urban communities. Its board includes political, social and business leaders from around the country. Significantly, it cites as a core value the "firm belief that social equity and human potential are the most important elements of a livable community."

"Clearly people across the country are realizing that Cincinnati has built a community that is attractive to families, young professionals and people of all races and ethnicities," Mayor Charlie Luken said.

Luken is right. The word is out. Cincinnati can point to many areas of progress during the past three years that are substantive, not just symbolic, in making this a livable community that welcomes and nurtures a diverse mix of people. Not only that, it really does rock.