Lee County, Iowa Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Corn Stover

Lee County, Iowa Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Corn Stover

Aug 18, 2026 – Lee County Economic Development Group, Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of a BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Lee County, Iowa. The BDO Zone is rated for 550,000 bone dry tons per year of low-risk corn stover and spans a 75-mile drive radius from its central point in Fort Madison, IA.

Lee County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. The region supports an agronomically mature corn production system with multi-generational producer experience in cultivation and residue management, with virtually no industrial competition for corn stover, making feedstock availability both reliable and largely unconstrained. That supply foundation is backed by strong infrastructure assets, including Mississippi River barge access, BNSF rail certification, and robust utilities availability, alongside very low political, regulatory, and sustainability risk, positioning Lee County as a prime location for biobased industrial development.

Tim Gobble, Director of Economic Development, Lee County Economic Development Group, stated, “A BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating validates what we’ve known about Lee County for years. We have the agricultural resources, transportation assets, industrial infrastructure, and workforce necessary to compete for the next generation of bio-based manufacturing projects. This rating provides third-party credibility that helps reduce risk for investors and puts Lee County on the radar of companies looking to expand in the growing bioeconomy. It is more than a designation; it’s a powerful economic development driver positioning our region for new capital investment, job creation, and long-term growth.”

Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “Ratings like this aren’t just about tonnage, they’re about durability. Lee County’s producers have been managing residue for generations, and that experience is exactly what gives an investor confidence the supply will still be there in year ten.”

To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Lee County, IA, please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.