Entrepreneur Support Tools for Bioeconomy Project
The Central Sierra Economic Development District (CSEDD), in partnership with CLERE, led a regional initiative to strengthen the Central Sierra’s emerging bioeconomy that focused on advancing forest-based entrepreneurship, expanding biomass utilization, and improving coordination across public, private, and nonprofit partners.
This work was developed to address a critical regional challenge: while significant forest biomass is generated through fuels reduction and restoration activities, limited infrastructure, market pathways, and business capacity have historically constrained its productive use. At the same time, rural communities across the Sierra face increasing pressure from wildfire risk, economic transition, and limited access to scalable business opportunities.
Through this project, CSEDD worked to bridge that gap by supporting both on-the-ground business development and system-level coordination. Efforts included convening regional stakeholders, developing practical tools for entrepreneurs, supporting early-stage business concepts, and improving clarity around permitting and development pathways for bioeconomy-related projects.
The result is a stronger foundation for a more connected, resilient, and opportunity-driven bioeconomy—one that supports forest health, reduces wildfire risk, and creates meaningful economic pathways for rural communities across the Central Sierra.
LEAF Partnership Conference
Regional Bioeconomy Convening
CSEDD hosted the inaugural Land Energy Agriculture Forestry (LEAF) Partnership Conference, bringing together over 100 participants from across the Sierra region from land managers and entrepreneurs to public agencies and industry leaders. The event created space for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and identifying barriers to growing the forest-based economy.
November 13, 2025 | Jamestown, CA
LEAF Conference Resources
Forestry Entrepreneur Toolkit
A Practical Guide to Starting a Forest-Based Business
Developed in partnership with Sierra Commons, this toolkit provides step-by-step guidance for individuals looking to start or grow a service-based forestry business. It covers everything from defining services and finding customers to navigating contracts, permitting, and financial basics.
Created in Partnership with Sierra Commons
Central Sierra Biomass Business Competition
Advancing Investable Bioeconomy Ideas
March 26, 2026 | Sonora, CA
CSEDD launched a regional business competition to identify and support innovative biomass utilization concepts. Participants received exposure, feedback, and connections to technical assistance, with a $2,500 microgrant awarded to the winning business to support early-stage growth. We had 12 applicants, 8 finalists, and 7 participants who completed the competition. The winner, RJ Skaar, Owner of Arnold Green Waste and Forest Products, pitched a product of wood briquettes that he makes on-site out of forest waste and residuals using a compression device. This creates a consumer product while also reducing his overhead for transportation costs to send his forest waste materials to Jamestown Energy, a regionally local bioenergy facilit. RJ intends to use the microgrant for building a website that will enable him to begin marketing his product and services.
Bioeconomy Playbooks
Clarifying Development Pathways
In collaboration with CLERE, this project supported the development of jurisdiction-specific bioeconomy playbooks and regional permitting resources. These tools help businesses and developers better understand land use, CEQA requirements, and pathways for project development in the Sierra region.
Created in partnership with California Law Empowering Renewable Energy (CLERE)
View Bioeconomy Playbooks (BEP)
Regional Ecosystem Mapping
A Tool Connecting the Bioeconomy Network to Funding Opportunities
CSEDD developed an initial ecosystem map to visualize key partners, funding opportunities, and relationships across the regional bioeconomy. The tool itself will be coordinated by Central Sierra Economic Development District in partnership with Mother Lode Job Training to provide a real-time depiction of partners working together in the region while enabling partners to find collaborations and funding opportunties that best support them. This evolving tool supports coordination, highlights gaps, and helps align stakeholders around shared opportunities.
View the Tools