Natchez Inc. and Ecostrat are pleased to announce the issuance of a new Bioeconomy Development
Opportunity (BDO) Zone designation for woody biomass.
The Natchez BDO Zone is rated ‘AA’, or very low risk, based on numerous positive indicators such as a
strong surplus of available biomass, a large number of potential anchor suppliers, and a healthy forestry
labor market. Approximately 4.1 million bone dry tons per year of woody biomass is generated in the
Natchez BDO Zone, defined by a 100-mile radius of Natchez.
Natchez’s Rating for Forest Residues, Pulpwood & Sawmill Residuals is the second ever ‘AA’ rating issued
in North America. The ‘AA’ Rating issue indicates that Natchez merits strong consideration as a location
for new bio-based project development that requires stable, long-term supplies of woody biomass.
“Natchez, Inc. is excited for Adams County’s official certification as a ‘AA’ rated BDO Zone, which opens
up new possibilities for the development of woody biomass projects. Our region is privileged to be
situated in close proximity to abundant natural resources and a strong transportation system. We are
eager to see this designation act as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity in our community whilst
providing us with a competitive edge in the forestry products market.” states Chandler Russ, Executive
Director of Natchez, Inc.
“It gives us great pleasure to announce that Natchez has earned a ‘AA’ BDO Zone Rating, a distinction that
has been awarded to only a select few in North America,” said Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO
Zone Initiative. “This significant achievement is a result of Natchez undergoing rigorous and extensive due
diligence, utilizing standardized, transparent, and validated risk indicators based on the BSCR Standards
for biobased investment. We commend Natchez for their commitment and effort in promoting the growth
of a greener, more prosperous economy that benefits future generations.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Natchez please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
About the City of Natchez and Adams County
Natchez is the oldest city on the Mississippi River where preservation and progress go hand in hand.
Adams County is positioned in direct access to roads, rail service, an active port facility and airport. With
a population of approximately 32,000 county-wide, this area serves as a hub for Southwest Mississippi.
Natchez also boasts a lower-than-average cost of living, steadily declining crime rate, quality healthcare
and a booming cultural scene which make it an attractive destination for both businesses and residents.
The forestry and wood processing industry sectors in the Natchez BDO Zone have a long history of
performance, dating back to the 19th century, and are one of the major industries within the Region. The
vast majority of timberlands (77 %) in the Zone are privately owned and are being properly managed in
order to support the industry with feedstock availability.
The Natchez – Adams County area provides exciting opportunities for businesses including an abundant
labor force, excellent transportation network, readily available land and buildings for business relocation
and expansion, as well as a strong economic development plan. Natchez has four industrial sites which
are located near the Mississippi River – (1) 214-acre Belwood site on River Terminal Road; (2) 37.65-acre
Majorca site located adjacent to River Terminal and Port Road; (3) 270-acre Mississippi River Energy
Complex located at Carthage Point Road; and (4) Riva Ridge site located near to Lower Woodville Road.
Transportation via highway, water and rail is easily accessible to all four sites.
About Natchez Inc.
Natchez, Inc. is Natchez and Adams County’s lead economic and community development agency. Their
mission is to serve existing and new businesses and industries – all with the goal of improving the quality
of life and economic well-being of area residents.
For more information about Natchez Inc., visit www.natchezinc.com. The BDO Zone Local Development
Leaders (LDL) are Chandler Russ, Executive Director (cruss@natchezinc.com) and Aimee Guido, Project
Manager (aguido@natchezinc.com).
About The BDO Zone Initiative
The BDO Zone Initiative is an economic development platform that enables local communities to deploy
powerful economic development tools – BDO Zone Ratings – to drive, accelerate, and catalyze biobased
investment and commercial project development in BDO Zones.
A BDO Zone rating is a standards-based technical risk assessment of biomass feedstock, supply chain, and
infrastructure attributes of a region with respect to the feasibility and development potential of new
biofuel, renewable chemical, biogas, bioproduct, or clean hydrogen plants.
BDO Zone ratings help regions and communities attract new biobased project development and
participate in the growing global bioeconomy by demonstrating the maturity of local biomass supply
chains and whether or not they are developed enough to support biobased manufacturing without
excessive risk.
For more information on the BDO Zone Initiative, please contact info@bdozone.org. To view all current
and upcoming BDO Zone designations, visit www.bdozone.org or check out the BDO Zone LinkedIn page
for all news and updates.
About Ecostrat
Ecostrat is the North American Leader in supplying biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable
chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance. Ecostrat led the USDOE/BETO
funded project to develop the new investment Standards and Ratings for Biomass Supply Chain Risk.
The Advisory Group combines the BSCR Standards with powerful predictive analytics to understand and
minimize supply chain risk. The Biomass Supply Group has 25 years of experience in sourcing and
supplying more than 5 million tons of biomass feedstock for bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical projects
across North America.
Jordan Solomon is Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative and President of Ecostrat. He has overseen the
development and operation of biomass supply chains for more than 5,000,000 tons of feedstock over two
decades for bioenergy, biofuel, and biochemical projects.
Jordan Solomon can be reached at jordan.solomon@ecostrat.com. For more information about Ecostrat,
visit the company’s website at www.ecostrat.com/standards or check out the Ecostrat LinkedIn page for
all news and updates.
