Bowie County Earns ‘AA’ BDO Zone Rating for Woody Biomass

Published on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 by Nicole Shakir, Managing Editor of Expansion Solutions Magazine

Independent assessment identifies 800,000 tons of low-risk woody biomass annually and positions Northeast Texas for bio-based industrial investment

BOWIE COUNTY, Texas — September 15, 2026 — TexAmericas Center, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative have announced that Bowie County, Texas, has earned a Biofuel Development Opportunity Zone ‘AA’ Rating, highlighting the region’s strong potential for bio-based manufacturing and industrial development.

The newly rated BDO Zone contains approximately 800,000 bone-dry tons of low-risk woody biomass per year within a 75-mile drive radius of its central point in Texarkana.

The ‘AA’ designation indicates very high prospective viability for feedstock supply and infrastructure, along with a low expected risk of project default within the Zone.

Sustainable Timber Resources Strengthen Bowie County’s Bioeconomy

Bowie County benefits from a sustainably managed timber resource where annual net growth significantly exceeds annual removals. That imbalance has created a substantial surplus of pine pulpwood and forest-thinning material that could support biofuels, renewable chemicals, advanced materials and other wood-based manufacturing operations.

The independent assessment gives prospective developers verified information about the availability, scale and risk profile of the region’s woody biomass supply.

“This ‘AA’ rating validates something we have long understood about our region: Northeast Texas has the natural resources, infrastructure, workforce and industrial capacity to compete for the next generation of bio-based industries,” said Scott Norton, chief executive officer of TexAmericas Center. “The strength of our timber resource extends well beyond Bowie County, and when combined with the transportation and industrial assets available across the greater Texarkana region, it creates a compelling platform for new investment, job creation and long-term economic growth.”

Boone-Copeland Industrial Park Anchors the BDO Zone

The BDO Zone is anchored by Boone-Copeland Industrial Park, a 140-acre site supporting both light and heavy industrial development in Hooks, Texas. The park is located within TexAmericas Center and offers service from every major utility, on-site rail access and convenient connections to U.S. Highway 82, Interstate 30, U.S. Highway 59 and Interstate 369.

These assets position Bowie County as a competitive location for companies developing biofuels, renewable chemicals, bioproducts and advanced wood-based materials.

“For companies evaluating biofuels, renewable chemicals, advanced materials and other wood-based manufacturing opportunities, this report converts a perceived resource advantage into a quantified and independently assessed business opportunity,” said Eric Voyles, executive vice president and chief economic development officer of TexAmericas Center.

“Developers can now see the scale and risk profile of the available feedstock alongside the infrastructure and development capacity at TexAmericas Center. That gives us a powerful tool to move conversations from ‘Could this work here?’ to ‘How do we make the project work here?’”

Rating Expected to Attract Bio-Based Manufacturing Projects

BDO Zone ratings are internationally recognized assessments of a region’s feedstock, supply-chain and infrastructure risks. Investment-grade ratings help identify locations capable of supporting new bioenergy and biomanufacturing facilities.

“Bowie County is one of the strongest woody biomass BDO Zones we have rated: a large, underutilized surplus backed by real infrastructure,” said Jordan Solomon, chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative. “We expect it to accelerate serious conversations with developers evaluating the Gulf South.”

The complete BDO Zone Rating for Bowie County is available through the BDO Zone Initiative.

About the BDO Zone Initiative

The Biofuel Development Opportunity Zone Initiative certifies regional readiness for biomanufacturing, develops global industry connections and supports new economic opportunities for farmers, rural businesses and economic development organizations.

A BDO Zone rating is a standards-based technical assessment examining a region’s feedstock, supply chain and infrastructure risks in relation to potential biofuel and bioproduct development.

Ecostrat is a North American provider of biomass due-diligence services for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas and bioproduct development and financing. Additional information is available at Ecostrat.com.

About TexAmericas Center

Located within the Texarkana metropolitan area, TexAmericas Center owns and operates one of the largest mixed-use industrial parks in the United States. The organization manages approximately 12,000 development-ready acres and 3.5 million square feet of commercial and industrial space, serving companies across Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma.

TexAmericas Center offers rail access, logistics services, development assistance, flexible leasing and customized real estate, incentive and financing solutions. The organization’s properties are situated within a U.S. Opportunity Zone, New Markets Tax Credit Census Tract, EB-5 investment area, Foreign Trade Zone No. 258 and Texas Enterprise Zone.

For more information, visit TexAmericasCenter.com.