The USDA Rural Development is backing the development of Blue Mountain Mill in Umatilla County, Oregon with a $25 million loan guarantee, aiming to boost local agriculture and rural economy.
USDA Rural Development Oregon State Director Jim Carmack announced a $25 million investment to support Blue Mountain Mill, a specialty grain and flour mill to be built at Coyote Business Park east of Pendleton. The mill is a joint venture between Cairnspring Mills and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
The project will source wheat from up to 45,000 acres in Umatilla County, which produces a significant portion of Oregon’s 720,000 total wheat acres. Blue Mountain Mill plans to mill locally grown grain and sell it to nearby businesses, fostering community partnerships and supporting local farmers.
This investment is part of USDA Rural Development’s Business and Industry Loan Guarantees Program, designed to improve rural economic health by increasing access to business capital. The loan guarantee is made in partnership with Native American Bank.
Carmack highlighted the importance of investments like this for healthy rural economies, emphasizing the expected job growth and long-term benefits for the region.
