BDO Zone Summit 2025:

Bridging Community Readiness and Developer Success

A concentrated virtual summit showcasing how BDO Zone-rated communities are attracting multi-million dollar investments and de-risking bio-based project development.

The Summit brings together communities and project developers, connecting the dots between regional preparedness and developer requirements while providing a 360-degree view of the BDO Zone Initiative.

Live: June 17, 2025 - 2 pm EST |Replay: June 19, 2025 - 10 am EST

Save Your Spot

What You’ll Learn:

  • How BDO Zone ratings are helping attract multi-million dollar biomanufacturing projects to communities and how to replicate their success
  • Get an insider's view of what biobased developers actually prioritize when choosing locations
  • Strategies to accelerate your network and connect with funding sources, developers, and economic partners
  • Hear real results directly from communities that have leveraged the BDO Zone process - including specific projects, timelines, and lessons learned

Duration: 90 minutes

Date: June 17th

Platform: Zoom

Webinar begins in:

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BDO Zone

Don't Miss Out. Reserve Your Spot!

Learn from real success stories and discover how your community or project can benefit from the BDO Zone Initiative’s ecosystem.

Reserve Your Seat Now

Our Speakers

Our hosts bring a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the table, ensuring a dynamic and enriching learning experience for all attendees.

Summit Host & Moderator:

Aryn Garswood

BDO Zone Initiative

Head

Featured Speakers:

Jordan Solomon

BDO Zone

Initiative

Chairman

"BDO Zone Initiative Overview & Strategic Outlook"

Jack Morgan

National Association of Development Organizations

Associate Director

"The Role of NADO in Empowering Rural Communities"

Panel Discussions:

Panel 1 - Ratings to Results:

Economic Development Perspective from BDO Zone Communities
Showcasing tangible results and experiences from communities that have successfully leveraged their BDO Zone ratings

Moderator:

Meaghan Seagrave

BioIndustrial Innovation Canada (BIC)

Executive Director

Panelists:

Shauna Carr

Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership

Economic Development Officer

Bob
Russell

Lewis County, Washington

BDO Zone

Retired Paper Mill Engineer

Rod Badcock

Greenspring Bioinnovation Hub

Executive Director

Chad Schreck

North Iowa Corridor

EDC

President & CEO

Todd Chaput

Lewis County Economic Alliance

Initiative’s Program Manager

Panel 2 - Risk Mitigation and Strategic Siting:

How BDO Zones Influence Developer Decisions
How BDO Zone ratings influence project developers’ site selection decisions and capital raising processes

Moderator:

Jordan Solomon

BDO Zone Initiative

Chairman

Panelists:

Nick Andrews

USA BioEnergy

CEO

Matt Boeger

Regen BioFuels

COO

Douglas Cole

Azure Sustainable Fuels

CEO

WHAT BDO ZONE SUPPORTERS HAVE TO SAY

“Before the BDO Zone rating, we had good uptake, but this has just increased it exponentially, and so for me, it's an absolute win. So if we were able to land all 4, the construction phase alone for the 4 of them total would be about a billion dollars.”

Shauna Carr

Economic Development Officer

Sarnia-Lambton Partnership

"I haven't seen this kind of activity in the seven years I've been here. Melville is becoming known across North America and around the globe as being open for business and very supportive of value-added ag-related industries...the BDO Zone Rating is the best thing that's ever happened to Melville."

Ron McCullough

Former City Manager

City of Melville, SK

“For a small facility that would serve just Barry County, that would be approximately a 5-million dollar investment up to a regional facility which is a 25 million dollar or more investment into our community.”

Nichole Lyke

Economic Development Director

Barry County, Michigan

"We could have tried to market ourselves, but we are a very small, rural county with a population of 20,000; we don't have a lot of resources. I don't think we would have been discovered at all had it not been for the BDO Zone Rating."

Mark Peck

Shared Stewardship Coordinator

Lincoln County Port Authority

"The two or three weeks post announcement of the certification tripled our deal flow in the forestry products side of things."

Chandler Russ

Executive Director

Natchez Inc., Mississippi

"We wouldn't be approaching phase 1 on a multi-million dollar project if it weren't for Ecostrat's BDO Zone."

Stephen Houserman

Economic Developer

Clarksville, Arkansas

Key Takeaways:

  • How to assess your community's readiness for a BDO Zone rating
  • What metrics matter most to developers and investors
  • Navigating funding landscapes and grant opportunities
  • How to connect with developers, stakeholders, and federal partners

Who Should Attend:

  • Economic developers
  • Project developers
  • Local government officials
  • Bioeconomy entrepreneurs and consultants
BDO Zone

BDO Zone Summit 2025:
Bridging Community Readiness and Developer Success

June 17th, 2025 2:00 - 3:30 pm EST

Complete The Registration Form To Save Your Spot!

Have questions?

We have answers!

Is the webinar free?

Yes, this virtual summit is free to attend.

Will a recording be available?

Yes, the replay will be sent out on June 19 at 10 AM EST.

How do I join the session?

You’ll receive a Zoom link and calendar invite immediately after registration.

Can I ask questions during the event?

Yes, there will be a 20-minute open Q&A session.

How long is the webinar?

Typically 90 minutes, including Q&A.

Will there be materials or follow-up resources?

Yes, speaker slides, contact info, and funding guides will be provided post-event..

Questions:

Contact: Aryn Garswood, Head of the BDO Zone Initiative
Email: aryn@ecostrat.com

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Learn More:
BDOZone.org