Noble County, Indiana Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Corn Stover
Noble County, Indiana Issued BDO Zone 'A' Rating for Corn Stover
– ‘A’ Rating to Enhance Corn Stover Utilization and Drive Biobased Economic Growth –
Sept 3, 2026 – Be Noble Inc., Ecostrat and the BDO Zone Initiative are pleased to announce the issue of a BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating for Noble County, Indiana. This is the first rating in the State of Indiana, rated for 475,000 bone dry tons per year of low-risk corn stover and spans a 75-mile drive radius from its central point in Ligonier, IN. The Rating was supported by funding from the USDA’s Rural Business Development Grant.
Noble County’s ‘A’ rating denotes high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. The region’s agronomically mature production system and long history of corn production ensure reliable feedstock availability, supported by consistent demand from area ethanol plants and livestock operations, while low current demand for corn stover and ample supply redundancy point to minimal haul distances. The rated anchor site is the Ligonier Industrial Park, a 10-acre, Indiana Shovel Ready, zoned Industrial (I-2). The site offers full in-park utilities, including three-phase electric, natural gas, municipal water and wastewater, and 1 Gbps symmetric fiber, with rail access and airports nearby, making Noble County a prime location for biobased industrial development.
Tara Streb, Interim Executive Director, Be Noble Inc., stated, “Noble County offers the key ingredients for successful biobased investment: abundant feedstock, experienced producers, and site-ready infrastructure. Our “A” rating reflects the strength of our agricultural economy and the development readiness of the Ligonier Industrial Park, positioning Noble County as a strong, low-risk location for biobased companies looking to invest and grow in the Midwest.”
Jordan Solomon, Chairman of the BDO Zone Initiative, stated, “Ligonier Industrial Park is exactly the type of shovel-ready site the BDO Zone framework was designed to spotlight: full utilities, rail and air access, and a feedstock base backed by decades of production history. We expect this rating to accelerate serious conversations with developers looking at the Midwest.”
To see the full BDO Zone Rating for Noble County, IN, please click here, or visit www.bdozone.org.
BDO Zone Project Development Support:
About The BDO Zone Initiative
The Biofuel Development Opportunity (BDO) Zone Initiative certifies ‘regional readiness’ for bio-manufacturing, creates global connections and ignites an influx of new energy opportunities for farmers, economic developers, and rural businesses. A BDO Zone rating is an internationally recognized, standards-based technical risk assessment of a region’s feedstock, supply chain, and infrastructure risk with respect to the development potential for new biofuel plants. BDO Zone ratings are site location bullseyes for bio-project development. Investment grade ratings are force-multipliers for attracting new manufacturing plants to the areas where they are most likely to succeed, drive investment 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.
Ecostrat is the North American leader in biomass due diligence for biofuels, renewable chemicals, biogas, and bio-product project development and finance. 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.