The World Bank has mandated Commonwealth Bank of Australia to arrange the world's first blockchain bond. According to the institution, the bond will be the first in the world to be created, allocated, transferred and managed with blockchain technology.

Montefiore Health System in NY has raised a total of $1.17 billion in the bond market, including $685 billion in bonds issued through the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). The $685 million issued by DASNY was offered as a $309 million tax-exempt series and a $376 million taxable series. In addition, Montefiore issued $482 million in bonds on its own.

Seattle wants to capitalize on its status as one of the nation's top travel destinations with a $1.7 billion plan to double the size of its downtown convention center. Construction will start soon on the project which will be funded primarily through $1.15 billion in bond financing.

California's treasurer has signed on to a document committing to fight climate change through a strategy using green financing. Green bonds may be sold by governments, as well as by private entities, to finance projects that have positive environmental or climate attributes. The projects can range from clean transportation to renewable energy.

Pasadena's Art Center College of Design in CA has sold $103 million in tax-free bonds to refinance its debt and renovate its buildings. Approximately $61 million will be used to finance existing debt, with the remaining amount of approximately $42 million to be used for renovations at the Raymond Ave. and Lida Street buildings,

The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority has approved bond financing for housing and commercial space at a Marina District site. The bond issuance resolution authorizes up to $45 million in taxable bonds to finance Marina Lofts Acquisition LLC's planned 289,000-square-foot project in East Toledo, OH.

The Kalispel Tribe of Indians has closed a $53.5 million bond deal that will allow it to pursue several capital improvement projects on reservation land. The tribe will use the bonds to build new roads, offices for the tribal police department and upgrades to its sewer system.

Yields at issue for green municipal bonds are on average 0.06 percentage points below yields paid on otherwise equivalent bonds. This is important for municipal bond issuers because it means investors may be willing to accept lower returns in order to hold bonds identified as socially responsible.

The bonds are a financing tool in which repayment to investors is linked to the achievement of a desired environmental outcome. In this case, the outcome is sustained wetlands that help curb land loss and provide risk reduction for coastal residents and businesses. 

Members of the Newport City Council have approved the issuance of up to $22.5 million in revenue bond anticipation notes for Newport Utilities. The bonds will be used to fund a project offering a fiber Internet and TV service to all of the utility's customers.

Court Street Group Research and The Municipal Impact Coalition held a webinar recently discussing the impact of technological change on public governance investment. Webinar panelists were George Friedlander, Joseph Krist, Matt Posner, and Mac Hughes-Cromwick.

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