Check out this blog from Envision's President and Cofounder, Mike Walsh:

"Envision Sustainability Tools (Envision), the developers of urban sustainability software MetroQuest is pleased to announce that Renewal Partners (Renewal) has agreed to convert a portion of a maturing debenture into equity and accept the balance in cash. Envision is thrilled with Renewal's continued support for its efforts to help cities become healthier, greener and more liveable, particularly in such difficult economic times. The company is also pleased to be included in Renewal's impressive list of investments; firms that are all trying to both do well and do good.
Envision continues to grow its business, helping numerous cities across Canada engage their communities in a dialogue about desirable futures. MetroQuest has been receiving critical acclaim from clients, such as Patrick Robson, the Planning Commissioner for the Regional Municipality of Niagara who says:

"People instinctively trust the MetroQuest process because we don't tell them to choose this or that. Rather, they are encouraged to experiment and to make choices based on their own values. The result is that MetroQuest allows them to legitimately convince themselves and come to their "aha" moment through their own sense of discovery. Some people come to the meetings with their own personal agenda for the region and leave as converts and my best ambassadors of the growth management planning process."

2008 has been a big year for Envision outside of Canada as well, as the company is now working with regional agencies in both Chicago and Denver. In Chicago for instance the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is in the midst of a year long process to engage the 8 plus million residents in a discussion about their collective future. It has selected MetroQuest as the tool to anchor that process, and will feature MetroQuest Online on its engagement portal www.goto2040.com early in 2009. Establishing MetroQuest as the preeminent maker of stakeholder engagement tools for urban and regional visioning projects in the US is a key step in the company's long term strategy of growing the business into new markets. As a result of working with two of the most respected regional planning organizations in the US, Envision is now attracting attention from regions across the country, and expects to continue to grow its US business in 2009. MetroQuest was also used to train Chinese mayors at the National Training Centre for Mayors of China in October, when company President Mike Walsh was invited to participate in 2 days of sustainable community training being provided by the Harmony Foundation of Victoria.

Envision also decided in 2008 to begin operating as MetroQuest, in order to continue to build brand recognition around its principal product. It acquired the www.metroquest.com  domain, has launched a new website, and is now presenting itself to the world as MetroQuest."