Coalition of Native CDFIs and financial partners enables project to transform Tribal economy
UMATILLA INDIAN RESERVATION, OREGON (September 18, 2025) — Mission Driven Finance announced a $9 million investment as part of a larger capital raise for Cairnspring Mills’ new Blue Mountain mill on the Umatilla Indian Reservation in Oregon. The transaction, structured with eight Native Community Development Financial Institutions and other partners, represents a breakthrough in creative financing for Indigenous economic development.
The Blue Mountain mill rebuilds regional value-added processing infrastructure that has been sorely missing since the closure of a Pendleton mill due to a devastating fire three years ago. The new mill will dramatically increase Cairnspring Mills’ processing capacity and revenue, supporting the local economy with more than 20 jobs, and make regeneratively grown and identity-preserved flour more widely available. For the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, the project provides equity ownership, long-term land lease income, and advances their economic development and food sovereignty goals.
“This deal unleashes the financial capacity of Native lending institutions while directly impacting their communities,” said Ted Piccolo, Senior Director of Indigenous Futures at Mission Driven Finance. “We’re rebuilding ancient trade routes that Native peoples created to exchange goods and ideas.”
Dave Tovey, executive director of the Umatilla Tribes’ Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, praised the collaborative financing: “My brother Bill, who serves as the director of Umatilla County’s Department of Economic and Community Development, and I are incredibly proud to see this project come to fruition on Tribal land. This would not have been possible without the bold and creative approach of Mission Driven Finance, making it easy for us and other Native CDFIs to come together and invest in a project with such a transformative impact on Indian Country. We are deeply thankful for their role in bringing this to life.”
The mill addresses capacity constraints at Cairnspring Mills’ flagship Skagit Valley facility in Burlington, WA, which will continue operations, while creating a regional hub for regenerative agriculture. Cairnspring Mills is partnering with Blue Mountain Community College to develop mill training programs for workforce development.
For Kevin Morse, CEO of Cairnspring Mills, the deal is more than just a financial transaction. “This deal represents the culmination of a multi-year journey to bring Cairnspring Mills’ dream to fruition,” Morse said. “Rebuilding infrastructure is expensive, and Tribal communities, more than anyone, understood the value of this project. This collaboration is a symbol of what we can do as a community to create something different that makes a big difference for our homes and our people and future generations.”
The total project is being financed through a combination of equity, debt, and New Markets Tax Credits. Mission Driven Finance’s subordinated debt syndicate unlocked significantly more capital for the project and positioned Native intermediaries as critical growth partners. Participating Native CDFIs include Citizen Potowatomi CDC, Four Bands Community Fund, NACDC Financial Services, Native360 Loan Fund, Nimiipuu Fund, Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, Northwest Native Development Fund, and Oweesta Corporation. Peter and Jennifer Buffett’s NoVo Foundation and Terra Regenerative Capital are among the leading equity investors.
“This partnership is a powerful example of how we can cultivate a more inclusive and robust economy and use creativity to align all stakeholders toward a shared goal—what we like to call ‘capital weaving,’” said Lauren Grattan, co-founder of Mission Driven Finance. “Our existing relationship with Cairnspring Mills gave us confidence in their leadership to grow regenerative agriculture in deep partnership with the Umatilla Tribe’s economic development. We are thrilled to play a role in building both physical and capital infrastructure through this partnership with our Native finance peers for the future of Indian Country.”
About Mission Driven Finance®
Mission Driven Finance is an impact asset management firm dedicated to building a financial system that ensures good businesses have access to sufficient, affordable capital. Built from the ground up with a single purpose—to make it easy to invest in your community—all of their funds and structured products are designed to close financial gaps that will close opportunity gaps. They work with local and national investors to help them create the impact they want and work with businesses and community partners to help them get the capital they need. Mission Driven Finance was launched in 2016 in San Diego, CA, and is a Certified B Corporation. In 2025, Mission Driven Finance was selected again for ImpactAssets’ IA 50 Fund Manager list*, a category for experienced impact fund managers with a minimum three-year track record. Learn more at missiondrivenfinance.com.
Disclosure: The experiences of Umatilla Tribes’ Nixyáawii Community Financial Services, a participating lender, and Cairnspring Mills, a borrower, are shared above. No compensation was provided in connection with the experiences shared.
Mission Driven Finance, LLC is an Exempt Reporting Adviser. CRD # 295160/SEC#:802-114710
*Please visit impactassets.org/IA-50/#criteria to review the IA 50 Fund Manager list selection criteria and methodology.
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Media contact:
Wilda Wong
wilda@missiondrivenfinance.com
858-880-0252 x708
