By The BDO Zone Initiative
Not long ago, Vegreville, Alberta was just another rural region with good biomass resources but little traction when it came to attracting serious development interest. Today, it’s on the radar of multiple project developers and actively raising capital for a next-generation biomanufacturing facility.
What changed? They got a BDO Zone rating.
A New Playbook for Economic Development
Across North America, communities are starting to break through a frustrating cycle: having the feedstock, the infrastructure, and the workforce, but being overlooked for major biobased investment.
BDO Zone ratings are helping change that.
The BDO Zone Initiative (www.bdozone.org) is a regional biomass supply chain certification and rating program the gives economic development bodies the tools to rapidly accelerate biobased project development.
These third-party technical assessments validate a community’s biomass supply and infrastructure readiness in a way developers trust.
What sets BDO Zone ratings apart is their credibility. Every rating follows the U.S. Standards for Biomass Supply Chain Risk (BSCR), a framework developed under the U.S. Department of Energy by Ecostrat and Idaho National Labs.
But the real story isn’t just that the tool exists, it’s how communities are using it to move from potential to progress.
And here’s the part more economic developers need to hear: there’s funding available to help make it happen.
Success Story #1: Vegreville, Alberta
The August, 2025 announcement of the $845 million Provectus Biofuels plant Vegreville, Alberta demonstrates the ability of BDO Zone ratings to catalyze new biofuels plant development.
“Before the BDO Zone rating, interest was minimal. Once our ‘A’ rating was published, it de-risked the feedstock potential and interest surged – Provectus Biofuels and three other companies reached out” – Bob Bezpalko, Executive Director, Alberta HUB
Key facts:
• Investment: $845 million
• Jobs: 400–500 construction jobs per year during a two-year build; 100 permanent skilled positions in the region
• Output: 100 million litres/year of renewable jet fuel, plus co-products (gasoline, diesel, biochar)
• Feedstock: 163,000 tonnes/year of local wheat straw residue
Why Communities Are Getting Noticed
Across North America, over 60 communities have earned BDO Zone ratings, and they’re seeing results that non-rated communities simply aren’t experiencing. What sets rated communities apart is clear, validated data – presented in a way that speaks the language of project finance, logistics, and risk mitigation.
There’s a big difference between a community saying they have the biomass and proving it through a standardized third-party framework. BDO Zone ratings remove the uncertainty for developers and it’s working. BDO Zone-rated communities represent a project pipeline of over $30 billion, with $4 billion in active capital raises currently underway.
Success Story: Bon Wier, Texas
The ‘AA’ rating in Bon Weir was the first of its kind for woody biomass and supported the siting decision for USA BioEnergy’s $2 Billlion biofuels facility.
“The Texas Renewable Fuels Biorefinery in Bon Wier, TX will create 1,000 construction jobs over 2-3 years and 200 permanent jobs. We’re spending $90M annually on forest purchases – supporting 1,000+ indirect jobs. With $150M in secured incentives, we expect to generate over $500M in local tax revenue over 20 years”. – Nick Andrews, CEO, USA BioEnergy
Key facts:
• Investment: $2.8 Billion
• Jobs: 1,000 construction jobs over 2-3 years; 200 permanent operation jobs, and 1,000 indirect forestry jobs
• Output: 65 million gallons per year of premium net-zero drop-in fuels (SAF, renewable diesel and renewable naphtha).
• Feedstock: 2.2 million tons per year of sustainably sourced wood fiber
Enter Funding Opportunities to Support Communities
The most successful communities understand that funding mechanisms are available to help remove cost barriers to becoming more competitive. The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) for example has supported over 25 rural communities obtain BDO Zone ratings, promote economic development and job creation projects.
For economic development professionals exploring biomanufacturing opportunities, the path forward becomes clearer when you understand that funding exists to support this strategic positioning. RBDG grants and similar programs can help communities invest in this kind of credible assessment that opens doors to meaningful conversations with developers.
The opportunity is significant, and communities across North America are discovering that having the right credentials—backed by solid federal funding—creates genuine possibilities for economic growth and diversification.
Final Thought: The Window Is Open
Project developers are actively scouting for credible, low-risk communities to build biobased projects in. With the right tools and the right funding, there’s no reason your community shouldn’t be on that list.
If you’re an economic developer looking to attract next-generation bio-based industry, the next step is clear:
✔️ Understand your biomass assets.
✔️ Leverage a BDO Zone rating to validate them.
✔️ Position your community as a credible site for new biomanufacturing investment.\
Learn more at www.bdozone.org or contact Aryn Garswood (aryn@ecostrat.com), Head of the BDO Zone Initiative to explore funding opportunities, including the RBDG.
Not sure if a BDO Zone rating is the right tool for your community? Try out the free BDO Zone Self Assessment Tool and receive a high-level ratings opinion to determine eligibility.
