Community Leaders Cut Ribbon on New REACH Facility

Event marks completion of construction on a $7 million project to preserve and expand the nonprofit’s presence in Klamath Falls

Community open house scheduled for Friday, August 10 from 10:30am to 2:00pm

KLAMATH FALLS, OREGON – Today, community leaders cut the ribbon on a $7 million expansion of REACH, Inc.’s facility in Klamath Falls that serves people with developmental and other serious disabilities in Southern Oregon. The project allowed REACH to formally acquire the Maywood Mill Site, where it has operated for years, and a former bank building nearby, and renovate those facilities to eventually offer enhanced services to its program participants.  

“This has been a long journey that wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of the Wendt Family,” said Ron Moe, Executive Director of REACH. “We’re proud that this expansion will allow us to better-serve our community in the Klamath Basin. I encourage our friends and neighbors to come to our open house tomorrow and see the project up-close.”

REACH will host a community open house for the public from 10:30am to 2:00pm on Friday, August 10. As part of the open house, complimentary burgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be available from 11:30am to 1:30pm.

In addition to over 60 production, training and administrative staff, REACH currently provides services to over 100 program participants, many of those at integrated jobs and employment training opportunities at several locations in the Klamath community. The centerpiece of its operation is its sawmill, recycling, and custom wood product facility on Maywood Drive, which is the focus of the ribbon-cutting today. Now that the project is complete, REACH expects to be able to double the number of people it serves within five years.

The overall project was financed by a $3.85 million loan from Craft3, a regional loan fund with an office in Klamath Falls, and a $6.75 million federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation by National Community Investment Fund (NCIF), which then attracted outside investment from Capital One. Diversified Contractors was the General Contractor.

The project received other financial support from The Collins Foundation, Cascade Health Alliance, The Pacific Power Foundation, and Klamath County Economic Development.

About REACH, Inc.
REACH was opened in 1968 in a one-room building off East Main Street, with the mission of helping people with developmental and other serious disabilities find meaning in their life through paid employment. From those humble beginnings and a lot of hard work over nearly 50 years, REACH has evolved into an agency that provides jobs to just under 150 people in the Klamath Basin, and continues to provide employment and employment services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and others with barriers to employment. REACH produces secondary wood mill products for other local companies like Jeld-Wen, Columbia Forest Products, and Collins Products, and is the largest independent provider of wholesale recycle services in the county. Learn more at http://www.reachkfalls.com.

Press release provided from the REACH, Inc.