Canton Earns First South Dakota BDO Rating

By Scout Nelson

Canton, South Dakota, has received the state’s first BDO Zone ‘A’ Rating, marking an important achievement for agriculture and economic development. The rating recognizes the region’s strong corn stover supply, reliable infrastructure, and readiness for future biobased manufacturing projects.

According to Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, Ecostrat, and the BDO Zone Initiative, the rating covers a 75-mile driving radius around Canton and identifies approximately 700,000 bone dry tons of low-risk corn stover available each year. The region includes the entire Sioux Metro area and offers a dependable supply of agricultural residues for industrial use.

An ‘A’ rating means the region has excellent feedstock supply, reliable infrastructure, and a low expectation of investment risk. Local farmers have many years of experience producing corn and managing crop residue, making corn stover readily available. Competition for this resource is also very limited, allowing industries to access large quantities within a relatively short distance.

The designated anchor site is the Canton Industrial Park, a 20-acre, city-owned, shovel-ready industrial property. The site offers direct access to a four-lane highway, natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater services, fiber connections, and a BNSF railway. These transportation and utility advantages make the location attractive for future industrial development.

Regional leaders believe the rating strengthens South Dakota’s position in the growing bioeconomy. The project also received support through a USDA Rural Business Development Grant, awarded in late 2025, with matching funds provided by Sioux Metro Growth Alliance.

Tyler Tordsen, President and CEO of Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, said: “Lincoln County and our Sioux Metro Region have the feedstock, the producer experience, the relationships and the site-ready infrastructure to support serious biobased investment. This ‘A’ rating reflects the longstanding strength of our region’s corn production system and the readiness of industrial sites that fit our communities such as the Canton Industrial Park, and we see it as a meaningful signal to developers and investors looking for a low-risk, high-viability locations in the Upper Midwest.”

Photo Credit: gettyimages-oticki