Dispatch From Milwaukee: Successful Launch of "Green Builds Business" Entrepreneur Bootcamp

The American dream is being realized in Milwaukee. Local Hispanic business owners are designing and implementing green projects that will accelerate the restoration of local jobs, their economy and our environment over the next 120 days.

Milwaukee was the launch city the week of June 6, 2011 for the Green Builds Business program created by the U.S Hispanic Chamber Of Commerce Foundation and funded by Walmart. As the implementing coach I was personally touched by the good and hard working business owners attending this event that were so dedicated to growing businesses that will make money and a difference.

I coached these business owners on what I call The Secret Green Sauce of best practices that I have harvested over the years working with CEOs, CFOs, CMOs and entrepreneurs who are succeeding in growing their companies' financial performance by going green.

Green Builds Business is focused on helping attending business owners use these best practice to start a project that is both green, profitable and that can be implemented within 120 days.

If the results achieved in Milwaukee can be duplicated in the other targeted cities then by years-end America will benefit from several hundred projects achieving real results measured by financial performance and social/environmental benefits.

Here are a few of my favorite Milwaukee examples:

• An e-waste start-up company that needed a path to market. By the end of their day participating in this program they had made three sales connections that will dramatically accelerate their growth

• A reverend for 12 churches with a vision for rejuvenating his city's numerous vacant lots by turning them into fields growing organic foods to feed local citizens. The project will expand the availability of local, healthy food for the community. By day's end we had located a community based organic farm that will supply their best practices including material specifications/building instructions for a green house that is sturdy and inexpensive to build

• A general contractor struggling like most in this construction industry depression was inspired by technical insights and best practices to start a lighting re-lamping company selling LED and CFL lighting systems with lower operating costs and emissions.

The list could go on-and-on of talented and caring  business people enabled to implement a project that will make a difference for themselves, their work associates and community.

I was also inspired by Nelson Soler, Chief Solutions Officer for Multicultural Entrepreneurial Institute (which hosted the event). Nelson reports he has helped over 600 Milwaukee business owners and entrepreneurs grow businesses and jobs.

Peter Sandroni is one such business owner. Peter owns the La Merenda restaurant that serves wonderfully creative organic food tapas located in a renovated woodworking shop. CLICK HERE to see a NBC Nightly News video on La Merenda's use of aquaponic sourced fish. Nelson helped Peter develop the La Merenda business plan and gain start-up financing. Peter is also a Green Builds Business participant- his project is a living roof that will harvest vegetables and spices for ingredients in his tapas. (Readers please post a comment to this article if you have expertise that could be helpful to Peter's living roof project)

The next city on the Green Builds Business tour is Las Vegas! Look for my next report on how Vegas and Green Builds Business are working together to restore our country's jobs, economy and environment.

Bill Roth is the founder of Earth 2017, a company that connects businesses with customers seeking smart, healthy and green solutions.