PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 16, 2025 – USDA Rural Development Oregon State Director Jim Carmack today celebrates a $25 million investment in support of a new specialty mill to be developed at Coyote Business Park east of Pendleton.
“Healthy rural economies are expressions of investments: time, engagement, as well as funding,” said Carmack. “This is exciting to celebrate this new opportunity in partnership with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and we are looking forward to seeing the job growth and long-term benefits that are sure to come.”
USDA is investing $25 million in a loan guarantee to develop Blue Mountain Mill, a joint venture between Cairnspring Mills and Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation., The site of this specialty grain and flour mill is Coyote Business Park on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Umatilla County. Multiple investment partners are contributing to this development. When fully operational, the mill will source wheat from up to 45,000 acres in the Umatilla County region, which produces 235,000 acres of wheat of the 720,000 total acres statewide. The company’s method is to source local grain, mill it, and sell it to nearby businesses. This model supports local farmers and community partnerships.
This investment is made by USDA Rural Development in partnership with the lender Native American Bank, through the Business and Industry Loan Guarantees Program. The program helps improve rural economic health by increasing access to business capital.
USDA Rural Development invests in rural America with programs to promote rural prosperity. These programs expand access to high-speed internet, electricity, and transportation infrastructure, and support economic growth, healthcare, education, housing, and other community essentials. Discover more investment details and historical data in the Rural Data Gateway and learn more about the agency at www.rd.usda.gov.
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