Milwaukee combines private credit and pay-for-success to finance green stormwater projects
In Milwaukee, a new generation of infrastructure along Lake Michigan’s shores demonstrates how a resilient capital stack can convert climate risk into investable opportunity at the neighborhood level.
Rather than relying on slower, centralized public funding, climate-resilience specialist Corvias Infrastructure Solutions and the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District are leveraging a private line of credit to construct green stormwater projects — getting paid only when those projects attain the targeted results.
A severe August storm exposed the urgency of addressing Milwaukee’s sewer system vulnerabilities, resulting in approximately five billion gallons of sewage overflow — the largest overflow event in three decades.
This installment of the “Resilient Capital Stacks” series examines how four elements — private financing, pay-for-success models, municipal repayment, and community partnerships — can mitigate project risk, accelerate implementation, and foster community engagement.
