Investment Crowdfunding Used To Finance Green Infrastructure Pilot Project in Fairfax, VA

Under a new directive to advance smart city technologies as part of the county’s strategic plan to grow and diversify the economy, Fairfax County, VA pursued a green infrastructure pilot project at its I-95 landfill complex.

The scope of the pilot project was to replace an approximately 200-yard length of failing road at the I-95 landfill complex with a mix of high-performing recycled materials.

If the project was deemed successful, Matrix Materials, the contractor responsible for the materials and construction technique, could be brought in on projects across the state in the future. Due to a lack of working capital, Matrix Materials needed a way to finance the project but had limited options due to the nature of green infrastructure projects.

Matrix Materials turned to Infrashares to assist in securing a loan of $40,000 to fund the project.

The Infrashares platform brings crowdfunding to Public-Private Partnerships (P3), connecting changemakers trying to develop critical infrastructure projects with investors.

The county’s road project was posted on the Infrashares platform with the general public able to invest in and fund a critical infrastructure project.

By committing funds, investors were promised monthly interest payments for the 6 month duration of the loan, with repayment of the principal anticipated to occur at the end of the loan period.