UMATILLA, Ore.-The City of Umatilla will hold a ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the new Business Center at 820 6th Street from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on May 8.
“The Umatilla Business Center is the culmination of years of effort to bring a modern face to our downtown,” said Zach Ratkai, Community Development Director. “Its presence and opportunities for small businesses in Umatilla, along with the direct, consistent, and present support from the City, will ensure that this will be the business growth hub of Northeast Oregon for many years to come.”
The community is invited to the grand opening that will include live music, food trucks, and guided tours of the facility, as well as remarks from Umatilla Mayor Caden Sipe, State Representative Greg Smith, Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran, and Ratkai.
The Business Center development includes a two-story north building and a one-story south building, forming an approximately 11,500-square-foot mixed-use facility along 6th Street on the site of the old Post Office, that had been deemed unsafe, according to the City of Umatilla.
The center’s Business Incubator Program will offer below-market space to emerging businesses for one to three years, paired with hands-on training in essential business skills to support long-term success.
The total project budget is approximately $8.22 million, funded through a combination of sources, including the Economic Development Administration, the State of Oregon, Umatilla County, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and City capital reserves.
According to the City of Umatilla, the Business Center fulfills a key goal of creating a true city center, bringing together economic opportunity, civic use, and public space enhancements, while also expanding opportunities for entrepreneurship and cultural engagement.
Community events are planned for the new business center, including Umatilla’s Saturday Market and Concert Series, which will be held the second Saturday of every month from May through August at Village Square Park at the Business Center.
The markets are family-friendly events that feature local vendors and produce, handmade goods, food, entertainment and concerts. The first Saturday Market and Concert Series is set for May 9.
More information on the Umatilla Business Center project is available online.
