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Malheur County, Oregon

The Malheur County, OR, BDO Zone for Dairy & Feedlot Manure is rated ‘A’.

Rating Issue Date: April 6, 2026.

‘A’ ratings denote high prospective viability of Feedstock Supply and Infrastructure and low expectations of default risk in the Zone. Capacity to support new biobased plant operations is considered strong.

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Call 833-311-4BDO

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BDO Zone Rating

A

Malheur County, OR BDO Zone Overview

Feedstock quantities are expressed in wet tons per year (wt/yr), while feedstock costs are expressed in USD ($). Maximum transport distance is based on a 75-mi driving distance from Nyssa, OR.

BDO Zone Assets:
  • Feedlots and Oregon dairies are willing to sell to new buyers, as current market is seasonal and frequently saturated.
  • A manure-based bio-project would complement regulatory goals of minimizing manure land application.
  • Manure management procedures and equipment are already in place.
  • High confidence in continuation of modelled manure generation levels due to strong historical performance of the region’s dairy and beef industries.
BDO Zone Liabilities:
  • For projects requiring a liquefied feedstock, water use regulations may lead to technical and economic barriers to feedlot manure liquefaction.
  • There is uncertainty in expected pricing, as indicated by the wide rated price range.

Infrastructure

Arcadia Industrial Park:
  • Location: Arcadia Blvd., Nyssa; centrally positioned within a major cattle production region; strong regional transportation connectivity
  • Site Size: ~280 acres, industrial-zoned
  • Availability: Development-ready industrial land; large contiguous parcels suitable for single or multi-tenant use
  • Overview: Expansive industrial park with significant rail infrastructure, strategically located to support agricultural, industrial, and bioeconomy operations. Its proximity to major cattle production makes it well-suited for projects leveraging agricultural byproducts or feedstock.
  • Infrastructure:
    • Rail: Over 4 miles of rail siding on site, enabling direct freight access
    • Transportation: Efficient access for trucking and logistics; well-connected to regional transport routes
    • Utilities: Industrial zoning supports utility servicing (specific capacities to be confirmed per project requirements)
  • Transportation Access:
    • Direct rail access via on-site siding
    • Strong road connectivity for regional freight movement
    • Centrally located relative to agricultural supply chains
  • Development Advantages:
    • Significant rail infrastructure already in place
    • Proximity to concentrated cattle production (strong feedstock potential)
    • Large-scale site suitable for industrial or bioeconomy development
    • Efficient logistics for inbound raw materials and outbound products
1000 Washington St E Industrial Site (Vale Mushroom Farm):
  • Location: 1000 Washington St E, Vale; positioned within an agricultural and agribusiness hub in eastern Oregon
  • Site Size: ~45.9 acres total; includes additional ~29-acre parcel (Fulleton Rd.) suitable for storage or ancillary uses
  • Availability: For sale; former industrial/agricultural facility with redevelopment or repurposing potential
  • Overview: Large-scale former mushroom farm facility with extensive warehouse space and existing agricultural infrastructure. The property includes multiple buildings and a secondary parcel that can support biomass storage, composting, or maintenance operations. Suitable for bioenergy, bioprocessing, or agricultural-industrial conversion projects.
  • Infrastructure:
    • Buildings: ~165,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space across multiple structures
    • Heating/Energy: Geothermal well on site (unique low-cost heating potential)
    • Water: On-site well infrastructure
    • Wastewater: Connected to City of Vale sewer system
    • Additional Land: Secondary ~29-acre parcel with composting facilities, concrete pad, and grain storage
  • Transportation Access:
    • Strong road access for trucking and agricultural logistics
    • Located within a regional farming and agribusiness corridor
    • Proximity to Idaho/Oregon agricultural markets
  • Development Advantages:
    • Existing large-scale industrial footprint reduces upfront build costs
    • Geothermal heating provides potential operational cost savings
    • Secondary parcel ideal for biomass storage, preprocessing, or maintenance shop
    • Suitable for bioeconomy, food processing, or agricultural industrial reuse
    • Flexible redevelopment opportunity with multiple structures already in place
Alameda Drive Industrial Site (“Blank Slate” Site):
  • Location: TBD Alameda Dr., Ontario; located within the Urban Growth Area with strong regional access to agricultural and industrial corridors
  • Site Size: ~115 acres; large contiguous parcel suitable for industrial-scale development
  • Availability: For sale; currently leased for farming (tenant through harvest); development-ready land with no existing structures
  • Overview: True greenfield “blank slate” industrial site offering significant flexibility for large-scale development. With no existing buildings, the site allows for fully customized design and layout for bioeconomy, industrial processing, or logistics uses.
  • Infrastructure:
    • Zoning: Industrial (C-1/3); supports a wide range of industrial and manufacturing uses
    • Rail: Bordered on two sides by active rail lines, enabling strong potential for direct rail-served development
    • Road Access: Bordered by paved road providing immediate site access
    • Utilities: No on-site infrastructure currently (greenfield); utilities to be extended based on development requirements
    • Water/Irrigation: Includes irrigation shares; currently used for agricultural purposes
  • Transportation Access:
    • Direct adjacency to rail infrastructure (two sides of the property)
    • Immediate access via paved roadway
    • Located within a key agricultural and logistics region near the Idaho–Oregon border
  • Development Advantages:
    • True greenfield site—no demolition or site clearing required
    • Large-scale acreage suitable for major industrial or bioeconomy projects
    • Rail adjacency provides strong logistics and feedstock transport potential
    • Located in a high-agriculture region (potential biomass/feedstock supply)
    • Flexible zoning and location within Urban Growth Area supports future industrial expansion

Contact Info

Ryan Magwood

Head of Business Development

BDO Zone Initiative

ryan@bdozone.org

647-962-3286

BDO Zone Local Development Leaders

Taylor Rembowski

Economic Development Director

Malheur County Economic Development

Local grants and Incentives

Local Incentives:
Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Board (EOBED):
  • Regional economic development organization supporting business attraction, expansion, and retention across Malheur County and surrounding areas.
Assistance and incentives include:
  • Business recruitment and site selection support
  • Coordination with local municipalities and utilities
  • Workforce development connections and training resources
  • Assistance navigating local, state, and federal incentive programs
  • Support for agribusiness, manufacturing, and bioeconomy projects
Local jurisdictions may also offer:
  • Property tax abatements (enterprise zones)
  • Fast-tracked permitting and development support
  • Infrastructure coordination for industrial users
State Incentives:
State of Oregon Business & Economic Development Support:
  • Oregon Enterprise Zone Program: Property tax abatement (typically 3–5 years) for new industrial investments that meet job creation and investment thresholds
  • Strategic Investment Program (SIP): Long-term property tax abatement for large capital-intensive projects (typically $25M+ investment)
  • Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon):
    • Financing programs and grants
    • Infrastructure funding support
    • Business expansion and retention assistance
  • Workforce Training Programs:
    • Oregon Workforce and Talent Development programs
    • Customized training support through local community colleges
  • Oregon Investment Advantage: Income tax abatement for eligible businesses locating in targeted rural areas
  • Federal Incentives:
    • Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC)
    • USDA Rural Development grants and loan programs (relevant for bioeconomy and biomass projects)

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