​United Finance, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with 26 branch locations throughout Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and Idaho, specializes in fast, affordable personal loans.  Founded in 1922, United Finance originally was an automobile financing business established by Ralph C. Parker.  In 1944, Mr. Parker joined a partnership, United Finance Company.  United Finance was incorporated on March 22, 1954 and Richard H. Parker became president in 1956.  Presently, Richard H. Parker, Jr. serves as Chairman of the Board with Richard H. Parker III serving as President and CEO.
 
With over a century of continuous family involvement, United Finance’s mission is to make consumer loans directly to individuals and to provide personal local service at each of their local branches.  With that comes a commitment to be part of the local community and serve customers in person.
 
As a consumer finance company, United Finance provides personal loans with a minimum of red tape in an expeditious manner at affordable rates.  This can be done on line, over the phone, or through one of their offices. They also provide financing of automobiles through the purchase of retail installment contracts from local auto dealers.
 
As part of United Finance’s commitment to serving their local communities, they currently support over 200 local and national organizations throughout all of their branch communities.  This is done through the R.H. Parker United Foundation, which was established in Oregon in 1994 by the Parker family.  The Parker family is dedicated to helping their branch communities grow and prosper, thereby making each community a better place to live and work.
 
With the Parker family’s dedication to the communities they serve, United Finance will continue to be a valued citizen of these communities into its next century.
 

​“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.”
 
Nate Conklin State Farm, La Grande’s leading State Farm agency, exemplifies that credo.  They have a high-caliber team with almost 60 years of combined insurance experience.  Led by Nate, a La Grande native and graduate of Eastern Oregon University, the team includes Tess Taylor and Brittany Hanson, office representatives, and Tami Conklin, office manager.  They all work together to help serve their State Farm customers and the local community.
 
State Farm recently celebrated its 100th anniversary.  In that century, they have helped people rebuild neighborhoods, invested in communities, and supported education and safety initiatives in communities throughout the country.
 
Nate and his outstanding team have carried out this approach through their support of local causes and initiatives, sponsoring many community activities and organizations, including AYSO Soccer, Altrusa Festival of Trees, Ducks Unlimited, and the annual Farmer’s Banquet.  In 2017, Nate moved the office to Downtown La Grande and is now a supporter of La Grande Main Street Downtown.
 
Nate Conklin State Farm’s mission is to help people manage the risks of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize their dreams.  Their goal is to keep carrying out this mission with even more excellence, as well as being of service to the La Grande community.
 
With their dedication and commitment, the Nate Conklin State Farm team will have no trouble meeting that goal!

​For nearly four decades, Nature’s Pantry has been the go-to place for healthy food and health care products.  Starting out in a 750-square-foot portion of the Foley Building, Linda and Dennis Clayville moved Nature’s Pantry to their current location on Fourth Street shortly after. Over the years, the store has evolved and grown, becoming part of The Marketplace and having its storefront and surrounding area enhanced.  Inside, the range of products has expanded and a deli and juice bar were added.
 
Nature’s Pantry’s mission and mantra has always been “good for you, good for your community.”  With the many products and services they offer, Nature’s Pantry encourages people to invest in their health, because “health is the greatest wealth.”
 
With this, Nature’s Pantry is now Eastern Oregon’s premier natural food store, offering a wide range of organic groceries, vitamins and supplements, organic produce, bulk foods, herbs and teas, and a juice and smoothie bar and deli.  They also have a certified nutritionist on staff who performs health consultations.  Nature’s Pantry also offers the Vibrant You Health Show podcast and the Vibrant You Health Challenge, as well as cooking classes and gifts.
 
Because of their dedication to our community and the wide range of services and products offered, Nature’s Pantry will continue to be Eastern Oregon’s most complete and unique natural food store for many years to come. 

​M.J. Goss Motor Company celebrated its 100th Anniversary last year as Eastern Oregon’s one-stop-shop automotive facility.  As the region’s family-owned Chevy, GMC, and Buick dealer since 1922, they know how to provide an exceptional buying experience.
 
The mission of Goss Motor Company is to provide a stress-free and straightforward customer service process, respecting the wants and needs of each customer throughout the steps of buying a vehicle, as well as maintaining that vehicle throughout its life.  The Goss Motor Company’s sales team is equipped with knowledge and expertise in all of the company’s inventory. In addition, the pre-owned vehicle selection has undergone a rigorous inspection process, ensuring the best value for money.
 
Toward that end, they offer WARRANTY FOREVER, which provides great peace of mind and is offered on vehicles with less than 100,000 miles. Goss Motor Company also has a fully-equipped mechanic shop that is staffed with ASE Certified GM technicians and is the only GM-equipped body shop in the region. Their parts department features genuine GM parts and accessories, as well as used parts.  There is also a fleet of rental cars on offer for that special vacation or to fill in when there are repairs needed.
 
Throughout their 100-plus-year history, Goss Motor Company has given back to the local region through various community-centered events, such as the Food Drive co-sponsored with Elkhorn Media.
 
With their inherent respect for each individual customer and the value they place on that customer’s time, budget, and needs during each phase of the process of buying and caring for a vehicle, M.J. Goss Motor Company has ensured its success into its next century of service to the region.

​Established in 2018 by a group of six experienced realtors in Union County, Blue Summit Realty Group serves Union, Baker, Wallowa, and Umatilla counties.  These realtors are all well connected and established in the community and they are a team of the highest producers in the region with decades of proven experience.
 
Blue Summit Realty Group’s stated mission is to provide their clients with the best and most comprehensive real estate services available in Eastern Oregon.  They are full-time realtors who are energized and determined to help their clients achieve their dreams of home ownership.  They are competent, organized, and confidential in their dealings with each client. The realtors of Blue Summit also take pride in and look to serve the community through volunteerism and sponsorships.
 
On offer at Blue Summit is a wide range of services from comprehensive market analysis and listing and buying agencies for all types of real property to staging assistance, and much more.  The Blue Summit team is expert in all areas of real estate, including homes, land, commercial, farms, and ranches.
 
Ever innovative and creative, Blue Summit’s goal is to help each and every client achieve their dream of home ownership.  Toward that end, they are completely networked in the community with relationships that assist their clients.  They are on top of the latest technology in order to facilitate seamless and professional transactions.  Most importantly, the realtors at Blue Summit Realty Group are honest and confidential and will handle their clients’ real estate business with care and consideration.
 
Given Blue Summit Realty Group’s motivation, connectedness, professionalism, and ethics, they will continue to deliver the ultimate in real estate sales and service in Eastern Oregon for many years to come.

​Not only do Benchwarmers Pub and Grill and Longbranch Bar and Eats share a proximate location on Depot Street, they also share an owner in Matt Scarfo.  Both eateries are La Grande institutions and each has its own unique character and ambience.
 
Benchwarmers has the historical distinction of being the second-longest running bar in the Pacific Northwest.  They are currently looking to add it to La Grande’s historical landmarks to be part of LGMSD vision of Downtown.  Longbranch Bar and Eats has been around since the early 1920s and is newly renovated to update its facilities and design. 
 
Known for having great food and service at a reasonable price, Benchwarmers Pub and Grill also has Oregon lottery machines and a full-service bar with a celebrated happy hour.  They have full-screen TVs for sports events and 20 beers on tap, as well as being available for events catering.  Benchwarmers is open from 11 AM with closing being variable, depending on customer flow.
 
Longbranch Bar and Eats is known for its home-style cooking, along with the most reasonably-priced food and drinks in town.  They also have a full range of Oregon Lottery offerings, including Keno, Powerball, and Megabucks.  In addition, Longbranch also features a juke box with a full selection of tunes, free popcorn, and a dart board.  They are open from 7 AM to 2:30 AM seven days a week.
 
Both of these establishments have a storied place in La Grande history and the memories of patrons going back decades.  As the world and La Grande have changed, Benchwarmers and Longbranch have evolved to reflect the zeitgeist of the times.  Community is important to each--from celebrating a Mountie victory at Benchwarmers with friends and family to meeting up at Longbranch to get a wake-up cup of bar coffee and a very early breakfast at 1 AM after cramming for an exam.  Throughout the years, they both have claimed a place in the heart of Downtown and the folks who visit.
 

​Ziply Fiber provides fiber internet and networking services for home and business customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana.  Founded in 2020 after acquiring the Northwest operations of Frontier Communications, Ziply Fiber is headquartered in Kirkland, Washington and has about 1400 employees.  Ziply Fiber is a subsidiary of WaveDivision Capital, a private investment company, which is also based in Kirkland, WA.
 
The stated mission of the company is to deliver the best possible internet and online experiences to their customers and communities.  Ziply’s mission is guided by its “values of customer obsession, accountability, integrity, innovation, and teamwork.”  It is, as well, also driven by the vision of closing the digital divide and bringing the next-generation fiber network to the Pacific Northwest.
 
Ziply Fiber offers fiber internet and phone services for its residential customers, business fiber internet and Ziply Fiber voice services for small businesses, and a variety of internet, networking, and voice solutions for enterprise customers.  Ziply Fiber offers internet plans that have speeds up to 10 Gig, as well as streaming TV, phone, and whole home WiFi services.  They are currently expanding their fiber network to reach more than 80% of its service area by 2024.
 
Going forward, Ziply Fiber’s goals include expanding its fiber network beyond the existing footprint it acquired from Frontier Communications by expanding to areas surrounding current service areas, as well as bringing service to areas that have not been developed in the past.  This involves covering a total of one million locations with fiber in the small cities and towns that make up Ziply Fiber’s footprint in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana by 2024.
 
Ziply Fiber aims to close the digital divide and bring the next-generation fiber network to the Pacific Northwest and nearby regions.  This will bring untold benefits to our town and the entire region now and in the future.

​Les Schwab Tire Centers’ history goes deep in Oregon.  Founded in 1952 by Les Schwab with a single store in Prineville, Oregon when he bought OK Rubber Welders, the corporate headquarters were moved to Bend in 2008. Les Schwab Tire Centers employs over 7000 people in nine Western states and there are stores in Alaska, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
 
A vision of bringing together service, value, and convenience for their customers has always been Les Schwab Tire Centers’ mission since its time as a single tire store in Central Oregon.  This mission also involves, at its core, a company culture of partnership, giving people more for their money, and rewarding employees for their expertise and hard work.  This earns peoples’ trust and thus everyone benefits. An essential tenant of the Les Schwab Tire Center’s mission is being involved in their local communities, supporting such local organizations and events that build character, help those in need, and promote vibrant and healthy communities.
 
Along with tires and wheels, both general and commercial, Les Schwab also sells a variety of other auto parts and auto-related services, including brakes, shocks and struts, tire chains, and batteries, as well as performing safety checks and alignments. 
 
With Les Schwab’s death in May of 2007, ownership remained within the family.  However, in September of 2020, CEO Jack Cuniff announced that the company would be sold to a San Francisco investment fund.  The sale, to Meritage Group LP, was finalized in November of 2020.
 
However, Les Schwab’s vision remains at the center of the company’s culture.  Their goal is to carry on with and expand upon this with living strong values, growing great kids, and making this possible with local community involvement.
 
With their rich history and their commitment to remain true to the values and vision of Les Schwab and his family, Les Schwab Tire Centers will continue to prosper and add value to the communities they serve.

                  
Established in 2011, Raul’s Taqueria, with the addition of the Cantina in 2021, serves up fresh and authentic Mexican food with excellent service in a friendly atmosphere.  Raul’s is truly a family enterprise, with the current part-owner and manager, Arturo Escamilla, being the son-in-law of the original Raul, who also runs Cinco de Mayo.  Arturo has had years of experience in the food service industry, starting as a cook and waiter, culminating with managing a restaurant in the Tri-Cities area, until being called back to La Grande to help with the family restaurants.
 
Arturo’s vision for Raul’s encompasses not only serving the highest quality authentic Mexican food at the best value, but also providing a welcoming inclusive atmosphere where customers feel at home.  Expanding on that, Arturo has a deep commitment to his community.  Not only is Raul’s involved in civic organizations and events, but Arturo also runs a “Students in Need” program that provides school supplies to less-advantaged students in our area.
 
Raul’s menu is wide-ranging, from the traditional to the more adventurous (Oregon burrito) and the Cantina offers a broad selection of cocktails and beers.  From tacos, burritos and quesadillas to huaraches, sopas and flautes de pollo, Raul’s serves up the full spectrum of Mexican food with eight different meat choices to customize your selections. In the Cantina, the choices are seemingly endless, with a dazzling array of specialty cocktails made with a broad choice of liquors from standard to top shelf, as well as a dizzying collection of beers, bottled and on tap, including local breweries.
 
Going forward, Arturo states that his primary goal for Raul’s is to provide the best customer experience ever, where people feel at home and welcome, keeping everything affordable.  He also wants to continue to hire young workers from the area to give them work and life experience to enhance their futures.
 
With Raul’s deep commitment to quality, affordability, and community, their motto, “Together is Better at Raul’s,” is spot on and will guide the family’s endeavors into the future.
 

​“It’s not about the loans we do; it is about the hearts we change and the people we help.”
 
            Steve Jacobson, Founder and CEO,
                        Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation
 
Teri Champlin, a lifelong resident of Union County and Branch Manager of the Fairway Mortgage office for our community, exemplifies this credo.  Whether one is looking to buy, build, or refinance a home, she is there to help.  She has been in the mortgage industry for more than 20 years and has the depth of experience to explore all loan options.  She can thus help her clients achieve home ownership with the speed and service they desire, finding the right loan with great rates, terms, and costs to meet each client’s specific needs.
 
Teri is an active and involved member of the La Grande community.  She has served as the chair of the Grande Ronde Hospital and Clinics Board of Trustees.  She joined the Board in 2014 and had served as vice-chair and secretary prior to becoming the chair.  During her tenure on the Board, she also served on numerous hospital committees.  Teri is also an alumnus of Eastern Oregon University.
 
Since financing a home is one of the biggest commitments one can make, Fairway Independent Mortgage’s mission is customer service.  They are dedicated to finding the best rates and loan options with some of the fastest turn-around times in the industry, especially in this ever-changing and volatile market.
 
Teri’s goal is to be a trusted advisor who provides highly personalized service to help each client through every step of the loan process, from application to closing and beyond.  She strives to exceed expectations, provide satisfaction, and earn trust.
 
With her deep roots in our community, vast experience in her profession, and dedication to service, Teri and Fairway Independent Mortgage Company are valued assets to the greater La Grande community.