BEAM Circular and Valley Building Trades Sign Letter of Intent for California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus
For Immediate Release:
June 11, 2025
Landmark agreement ensures project will be built under Project Labor Agreement, creating high-quality union jobs while advancing California's bioeconomy leadership
Stanislaus County, CA (June 11, 2025) – BEAM Circular announced today that it has signed a Letter of Intent with the Valley Building Trades to develop the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA). This partnership represents a significant milestone for the transformative bioeconomy project, ensuring that construction will create high-quality union jobs while establishing critical infrastructure to position California as a global leader in the fast-growing $4 trillion bioeconomy.
The California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus will address a critical gap in biomanufacturing infrastructure by creating California's first pilot and demonstration-scale facility for bioproduction. The Campus will specialize in commercializing technologies that use California's diverse agricultural byproducts and forestry residues as sustainable feedstocks for bio-based products.
"This partnership with Valley Building Trades demonstrates our deep commitment to ensuring the California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus delivers positive economic impacts across our community," said Karen Warner, CEO of BEAM Circular. "By developing this project under a Project Labor Agreement, we're not just building infrastructure for a cleaner future – we're creating high-quality jobs that support working families throughout the Central Valley."
The agreement ensures that the campus construction will prioritize skilled union labor, providing family-supporting wages, comprehensive benefits, and career advancement opportunities. As California seeks to address climate challenges while creating economic opportunities, this collaboration highlights how sustainable innovation and good jobs can advance together.
"The Valley Building Trades is proud to partner with BEAM Circular on this catalytic project that represents the future of sustainable manufacturing in our region," said Corey Van Rhys, Financial Secretary/Treasurer of Valley Building Trades. "Our skilled workforce is ready to build this state-of-the-art facility that will reduce waste, mitigate wildfire risk, and create valuable bio-based products while providing family-supporting careers for local residents."
The project addresses a critical "valley of death" in biotechnology development by providing the shared intermediate-scale facilities necessary to transition technologies from research to commercial-scale production. By filling this infrastructure gap, the campus will help prevent California from losing innovative firms, jobs, and investments to other regions and countries.
"The North Valley Labor Federation strongly supports this innovative project because it aligns with our vision for creating sustainable, high-quality job," said Will Kelly, Executive Director of the North Valley Labor Federation. "The bioeconomy represents a significant growth opportunity for our region, and we're committed to ensuring working families benefit from this transition to a more sustainable future."
The bioeconomy is a priority sector for California, highlighted in the State’s recently released Economic Blueprint. Bioindustrial manufacturing positions pay 40% higher wages than median wages in the North San Joaquin Valley, where the Campus will be built.
The California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus will:
Support the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs across the state through the attraction and development of bioeconomy businesses and technologies.
Support California's wildfire prevention efforts by enabling the use of woody biomass residues cleared from forests.
Advance the state's climate goals by reducing methane emissions from food and agricultural waste and enabling carbon sequestration.
Transform agricultural waste and forestry byproducts into renewable fuels, materials, chemicals, and ingredients.
About BEAM Circular:
BEAM Circular is a leader in developing innovative circular bioeconomy solutions that transform waste into valuable products while creating economic opportunities and addressing climate challenges. The California Bioeconomy Innovation Campus is BEAM's flagship project to build critical infrastructure that will accelerate California's transition to a sustainable bioeconomy.
About Valley Building Trades:
The Valley Building Trades Council represents thousands of skilled construction workers across multiple trades throughout the North San Joaquin Valley, advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, and quality construction practices.
About North Valley Labor Federation:
The North Valley Labor Federation unites labor unions across the North San Joaquin Valley to advocate for economic justice, good jobs, and strong communities. The federation works to ensure that all working families can thrive in the region's evolving economy.
