The economics of smart growth, as with most every industry sector, is highly dependent upon the availability of liquidity to the market place. For small businesses engaged in the smart growth sector in home building and development, capital for investment has disappeared, or has followed a different path in the United States. My educated guess, tempered with on-the-ground-experience, tells me both scenarios may have merit.

Even after you have created a business model that all of your stakeholders understand and can collaborate on, you’re not done. The reason for this is that the environment in which your business operates is not static, but dynamic—it is continuously changing.

If you are a NASCAR fan you know that in 2008 the racing series once known as the Winston Cup Series became what is now known as the Sprint Cup Series. But did you also know that the Winston Solar Challenge is now known as the Solar Car Challenge?

June's SBP e-newsletter (Vol. 2, Summer) contains articles on smart economic growth, putting your business model in context and special upcoming events. We also try to educate Auntie Green on natural gas appliance investing as a sustainable project. Humble House Foods appears in our Client Corner section as it underwent an eS² energy audit to save on electricity bills. For full articles, please visit the 'Contact Us' link above.

This quarter finds Auntie Green contemplating another major investment! This time, she has become obsessed by natural gas and, why not? It is the latest media craze - darling, actually. Using the latest hydro-fracturing technology, we have been promised practically limitless energy. Since Auntie Green is not one to venture cautiously after making up her mind, she has grand visions for "going natural gas" - in a big way.?