"Building Cincinnati isn't a job, it's a lifestyle."

So reads the tag line on my . I wish I could take full credit for the line, because it sums up my relationship with the website so succinctly. Since late 2006, I have worked to develop the site and brand into an informative, accurate, and timely alternative and independent news source covering the urban built environment and the policies that shape it.

But serving that mission requires a full-time commitment, and, in my honest opinion, full-time work deserves full-time pay.

For the past couple of months, I've been working with a consultant on a business plan that would not only cover business costs (such as a much-needed site upgrade, travel, etc.), but also provide a sustainable financing stream that could continue to fund my work and allow me to make a real living. I remain optimistic, but crunch time is quickly approaching and it's time for me to step things up.

A September survey of hundreds of Building Cincinnati readers revealed that nearly one-third of all respondents use some portion of the website for professional purposes. This is encouraging, as it's likely that sponsorships from local firms will be one of the ways, if not the only way, to fund the site.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be reaching out to you professional contacts whom I have met personally to find out how you use the site in your day-to-day operations and to discuss possible sponsorship opportunities.

In the meantime, I urge both professional and non-professional readers to contact me with any feedback, ideas, or offers at . Thank you for your loyal readership and your continued patience.

Now, let's make this happen!

Kevin LeMaster
Editor and Publisher
Building Cincinnati