Community Financed Systems (CFS)

Community Financed Systems are systems in which the public form membership organizations that focus on building systems, much like crowd-funding but at a much bigger scale. Since many of these systems are land-based, existing programs and legislation make the task easy. Scroll down to read more and see examples.

In Texas, Municipal Utility Districts also known as MUDs, have long been recognized for their ability to support the development of residential real estate, and the developers who build new communities. Nature Towns makes use of MUDs to finance the green infrastructure critical to our future. MUDS can be financed with green municipal bonds, generating the lowest cost financing solution for residents.

Conservation Easements are a well recognized way to conserve land. They struggle however. Nature Towns is an innovative use of conservation easements and the use their related tax credits, for a concept called Tax Credit Financing, similar to how wind and solar farms are financed. Learn more after completing your membership.

An Agricultural Development District (ADD) code was created under the Texas Agricultural Code Title 4,  Chapter 60 to incentivize the development of agricultural operations and facilities (60.002).  Nature Towns works with this legislation in its Public Private Partnership strategy between the residents and the operator of the green infrastructure (farm). Members can learn more about this innovative strategy in the private members section.

We work with the National Coalition for Community Capital (NC3) to utilize an SEC-approved structure that can receive investment from community members and direct that capital toward valued and community-led projects.

Click here to read more about Community Capital from the National Coalition for Community Capital. Our Nature Towns and Nature Farms members will receive greater detail about how we utilize this structure in the Members section after completing their membership and logging in.