Chris Gibbons has spent 35 years in the trenches implementing economic development programs that are meaningful and based in scientific data.

The concept of Economic Gardening is based in data-driven work that within many municipal organizations is still considered radical.  Base your efforts in entrepreneurial support; focus on marketable, fast-growing and innovative firms delivering high demand, low supply products and services.  

The work blends a focus on stage 2 companies and entrepreneurial support informed by the science of complex adaptive systems (Santa Fe Institute). 

In their own words

“Adding sophisticated, corporate level tools to these foundational principles and then working out the root problems that prevented companies from growing, Economic Gardening started producing amazing results.  The job base in Littleton grew from 15,000 to 30,000 without recruiting a single company.” 

Find the National Center for Economic Gardening

We enjoyed a great conversation with founder Chris Gibbons on the work of economic gardening, where the institute is going and how our communities benefit when they focus on the right combination of business fundamentals and a look from within for the time, talent and treasure to transform our communities. 

Welcome to the home of SMG’s ‘Are We Here Yet?’ Podcast.  We seek to produce vibrant storytelling from the entrepreneurs, creative-class warriors and dynamic citizens that collectively tell the story of modern-day America.

Add to that special tidbits like our Essays, The JazzRoom, Special Features and more.  We hope you find enlightenment and entertainment in each episode we present.

About our Hosts:

Scott M. Graves is the founder of SMGraves Creative Enterprises.  Most recently he was executive director of the Wachusett Business Incubator where the SMG team experimented with various programming to overcome the meaningless ‘ribbon cutting’ experiences so synonymous with much of our nation’s  well-intentioned economic development.   He is known for a steadfast resolve for intellectual rigor and business strategy.  Nothing makes Scott feel more fulfilled than to help other develop their own unique creativity which leads to fulfillment in work and life.  His team is currently partnering with The Worcshop, the east coasts largest industrial makerspace to develop the Worc-It Business Lab for incubating new business.  

An entrepreneur in his own right, Scott previously operated the former Smash Music. Along with ImageIdentity’s David Lubelczyk their team developed Leadership Candidates Program for immersive support of new enterprise and Business Triage, a direct response to the issues now exacerbated for small businesses since the spread of Covid-19.