ECOACTION PARTNERS: CROWDFUNDING

02 Oct ECOACTION PARTNERS: CROWDFUNDING

October EcoAction Roundtable (EAR) investigates the New Financial Frontier of Crowdfunding

We are pleased to have Anthony Edwards – our neighbor from Silverton – coming over  the hill on Friday, October 12, to give us an update on how crowdfunding can help revitalize our communities. The roundtable starts at 8:30 a.m. in the Program Room at the Wilkinson Public Library.

What is crowdfunding?

Crowdfunding describes the collective effort of individuals who network and pool their resources, generally through Internet platforms, to support efforts initiated by other people or organizations. Crowdfunding can also refer to the funding of a company by selling small amounts of equity to many investors. With the passage of the Crowdfund Act of 2012, policymakers enacted legislation that allows for a wider pool of small investors with fewer restrictions, and it’s poised to revolutionize how small businesses raise capital.

Edwards believes the combination of social media and equity-based financing via Crowdfunding provides a new avenue for investing in our communities. And for entrepreneurs, it can be a new tool to raise capital during the early stages of development. In recent months, Crowdfunding has become big business with peer-based lending websites and reward-based websites emerging such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

The presentation given by Anthony Edwards, founder of Crowdfunding Offerings, LTD, will cover the different forms of Crowdfunding currently being utilized for both social change and in commercial endeavors. It will include a survey of the current environmentally-centered fundraising platforms and successful projects, and an explanation and update as to the status of the Crowdfund Act of 2012. Edwards will describe how Crowdfunding, as a tool for entrepreneurs, is primed to change the way Americans invest in community.

County commissioner Art Goodtimes will be on hand to introduce Edwards, whose business endeavors over the past two decades have been driven by community collaboration and development involving a solid, forward-thinking approach.

As an attorney with San Juan Law Office in Silverton, Edwards’ primary focus has been on start-up and existing business consultation and strengthening communities through positive economic growth and sustainability. In 2010, Edwards assumed the role of Owner’s Representative to oversee the Silverton K-12 Rehabilitation Project, which transformed the last public school in Colorado heated by a coal boiler into a high performing, historic building. In fact, the school is on track to become the first K-12 LEED Gold facility in the world with 21st-century technology and high efficiency methods such as life cycle energy systems analysis, day-lighting, natural ventilation and utility tracking. In addition, the green design methods incorporated into the transformation of this 1911 structure not only preserved the integrity of the historical district landmark, but significantly lowered the long-term energy consumption and operating costs for the school.

Currently, Anthony Edwards is a member of Region 9 Economic Development District of Southwest Colorado and his law practice remains dedicated to assisting small businesses in the community. In recent months, he also founded Crowdfunding Offerings, LTD, an intermediary platform where business owners will be able to offer equity in their respective businesses to potential investors in 2013. That is in response to efforts in Washington, D.C. to enable the return of capital investments to main street America, and the passing of the Crowdfund Act of 2012 last spring.

Don’t miss this opportunity to find out more about Crowdfunding and how you can participate, either through investing your funds or using this avenue to garner funds for your next business venture!

Light refreshments provided. Please RSVP for this FREE EVENT via Facebook, (EcoAction Partners) email (programs@ecoactionpartners.org) or phone  (970-728-1340) by 3:00 p.m. on  Wednesday, October 10,  so we have enough food. A $5-10 donation is suggested to cover the cost of breakfast and all donations are greatly appreciated.