BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN ISSUED BDO ZONE ‘A’ RATING FOR WOODY BIOMASS

BARRY COUNTY, MICHIGAN ISSUED BDO ZONE ‘A’ RATING FOR WOODY BIOMASS

– ‘A’ Rating to spark growth for West Michigan’s biobased economy –
August 8^th, 2024

The BDO Zone Initiative has issued a BDO Zone ‘A’ rating for Barry County, Michigan for 324,000 bone dry tons per year of woody biomass.
The Barry County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issue of an investment grade BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating. The Barry County BDO Zone is the first rating in the State of Michigan for Woody Biomass and extends a 75-mi drive distance from the center point in Hastings, MI.
 
Barry County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong. The region features a well-developed timber and forest products industry, with many generational operations providing stability to the wood supply. The supportive community and pro-business environment of Barry County are advantageous for attracting workers and new bioeconomy operations.
 
“The BDO Zone 'A' rating underscores our community's potential to lead globally in the bioeconomy,” stated Nichole Lyke, Economic Development Director of the Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance (BCCEDA).  “This rating provides an excellent opportunity to expand and diversify our robust manufacturing and agricultural assets. We are excited to collaborate with bioenergy, biochemical, and bioproduct companies to propel Barry County to the forefront of bio-based manufacturing.”
 
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, added, “Barry County’s ‘A’ Rating exemplifies their commitment to sustainable development by leveraging their abundant woody biomass resources. They are not only tapping into an underutilized asset but also creating new markets and opportunities for bio-based companies seeking a steady supply of biomass.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Barry County, Michigan please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
BDO Zone project development support:
Nichole Lyke
Economic Development Director
Barry County Chamber & Economic Development Alliance
nichole@mibarry.com
269-945-2454 About The BDO Zone Initiative
The BDO Zone Initiative certifies regional readiness for bio-based manufacturing, creates global connections with project developers, and ignites an influx of clean energy opportunities.
A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized standards-based technical risk assessment of biomass feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential of new biofuel, renewable chemical, biogas, and bioproduct plants. Investment grade ratings attract new bio-based manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed-- and create jobs. 
For more information on the BDO Zone Initiative, contact info@bdozone.org. To view all BDO Zone ratings, visit www.bdozone.org.  Check out the BDO Zone LinkedIn page for news and updates.
Jordan Solomon is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat (www.ecostrat.com). He can be reached at jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com. Ecostrat is the North American leader in biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance.