The Commissary will provide the physical infrastructure and a place for local entrepreneurs to operate their small businesses, while also providing the supportive infrastructure necessary for Tribal entrepreneurs to have everything they need in an environment that fosters their success. While the Commissary Project is a direct response to combat barriers local entrepreneurs are facing when trying to start a small business in the Warm Springs community, WSCAT recognizes the project is a symbol of so much more. Not only is the project an opportunity to have a lasting impact that shapes the economic future on the Warm Springs Reservation, it represents an opportunity to heal, an opportunity to hope, an opportunity for change.

By Creating an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Promoting Authentic Placemaking, and Increasing Autonomy and Resiliency the Commissary will set a foundation to build a thriving reservation-based economy. Moving the building to its new location right off of Highway 26 is a visual representation of a community open for business! The Commissary’s thoughtfully designed space, rooted in community, presents Warm Springs as a destination and a regional resource. For visitors, clients, tourists, friends, families and business partners, we are eager to provide this welcoming space and the vast cultural wealth within – from authentic art to local food to innovative businesses. Outdoor spaces and multiple uses extend the Commissary’s value far beyond its walls. Much more than a building, the Commissary will create a community gathering place that anchors visitors and local community members to the cultural, social and economic identities of the Confederated Tribes, while inspiring all who visit to reimagine what is possible.