The Sonoma County Biomass Business Competition seeks to find solutions to reducing fuel loads that can lead to disastrous wildfires by fostering business models that use those fuels as a resource. | John McColgan/Wikimedia Commons
The Sonoma County Biomass Business Competition seeks to find solutions to reducing fuel loads that can lead to disastrous wildfires by fostering business models that use those fuels as a resource. | John McColgan/Wikimedia Commons
Two winning business models for wood products will have the opportunity to receive $35,000 each and a technical services support package as part of the Sonoma County Biomass Business Competition (BioBiz), which launched on Feb. 1.
The Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution District (NoSoCoAir) is offering the BioBiz competition as a way of combating wildfire risk by making it an economic opportunity, according to the competition website. The goal is to remove excess fuels from the county’s forested areas in a way that also creates economic opportunity.
The technical support packages being offered to winners will address environmental and legal assistance, financial assistance and marketing assistance, according to the competition website. First-phase proposals are due by Friday, March 26.
The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District posted about the competition on their Facebook page, noting that materials used in the business models must come from Sonoma County forests.
“Participants are encouraged to dive into the exciting fields of forestry, air quality and land management,” the Facebook post states.
The competition website indicates the development of addressing fuels management in this manner began in 2018, with the establishment of NoSoCoAir’s Healthy Forests, Clean Air Initiative.
“Through a county-wide collaboration of forest experts, business leaders and public officials, the competition is looking to build a wood products industry in Sonoma from forest restoration projects by directly investing in entrepreneurs who can catalyze an untapped sector in California,” the competition website states.
In addition to offering information about joining in the competition, the website also has information regarding planned workshops to assist applicants, as well as application templates and guidance regarding what is expected from applicants.
Final candidates will be selected by a review committee on Wednesday, June 30, according to the competition website. The winners are expected to be announced early in July, with funds disbursed by mid-July.
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