City of Chico - Recycling Market Development Zone

Recycling Market Development Zone

Build Your Recycling Business in Chico
Recycling Market Development Zone

The City of Chico's Recycling Market Development Zone (RMDZ) connects businesses with financing, development assistance, and strategic resources to help grow recycling-based manufacturing, material recovery, and circular economy businesses in

Northern California.

Whether you are expanding an existing operation, relocating your business, or launching a new manufacturing venture, Chico offers the infrastructure, workforce, and support to help your business succeed.

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Why Choose Chico?

Chico is strategically located in Northern California and offers the transportation network, industrial infrastructure, workforce, and available sites needed to support recycling-based manufacturing and material recovery businesses.

Business Advantages

✔ Designated Recycling Market Development Zone

✔ Low-interest financing opportunities through the CalRecycle RMDZ Loan Program

✔ Available industrial land and manufacturing facilities

✔ Access to Highway 99, Interstate 5, and regional freight corridors

✔ Rail access supporting industrial development

✔ Skilled workforce and technical training resources

✔ California State University, Chico and Butte College workforce pipeline

✔ Business-friendly environment with local economic development support

Industries We Are Looking to Grow

The City of Chico is actively recruiting businesses involved in:

Organics Processing

Businesses that convert food waste, green waste, and agricultural residuals into compost, soil amendments, renewable products, and other value-added materials.

Wood Waste Recovery

Manufacturers utilizing urban wood, construction lumber, agricultural wood waste, or biomass feedstocks.

Construction & Demolition Material Recovery

Companies processing, recovering, and manufacturing products from construction and demolition materials.

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

Businesses producing recycled-content packaging, fiber products, and paper manufacturing.

Recycled-Content Manufacturing

Manufacturers transforming recovered materials into new consumer or industrial products.

Repair, Reuse & Circular Economy Businesses

Businesses extending product life through repair, refurbishment, re-manufacturing, and reuse.

Regional Material Streams

The Chico region generates a diverse supply of recyclable materials that support recycling-based manufacturing and circular economy businesses.

Available Feedstocks:

Organics
Wood Waste
Construction & Demolition Materials
Cardboard & Paper
Agricultural Residuals

Theses material streams provide opportunities for businesses to create new products while supporting California's waste reduction and recycling goals.

Financing Opportunities

Eligible businesses may qualify for low-interest financing through the CalRecycle Recycling Market Development Zone Loan Program.

RMDZ financing may be used for:

Equipment purchases
Manufacturing equipment
Processing systems
Facility improvements
Property acquisition
Business expansion
Other eligible capital improvements

The City of Chico can help connect your business with financing resources and guide you through the RMDZ process.

Why the Chico RMDZ?

The Chico RMDZ combines economic development with environmental sustainability by helping businesses transform recyclable materials into valuable products while creating local jobs and strengthening regional manufacturing.

Our goal is to attract businesses that:

Create jobs
Expand recycling capacity
Increase demand for recovered materials
Support California's circular economy
Invest in long-term economic growth

Available Sites & Business Resources

The City of Chico can assist businesses with:

Site selection assistance
Available industrial properties
Development opportunities
Utility coordination
Zoning information
Workforce resources
Business permitting assistance
Economic development incentives

Explore our Economic Centers and Corridors StoryMap to learn more about Chico's industrial areas, business districts, transportation assets, and development opportunities.

[LINK TO ECONOMIC CENTERS STORYMAP]