New Day Enterprises fulfills this mission by:

• Recognizing consumers as individuals and addressing their specific needs.

• Providing individualized programs and training.

• Facilitating community employment opportunities.

• Promoting community awareness of New Day Enterprises’ mission.

New Day’s story is a story of people. It is a story that officially began for our agency when it incorporated in 1972. New Day was started by a small group of parents and their adult children with disabilities. In the beginning, there were just a few adults with developmental disabilities in the community and a couple of parent volunteers to run the program. The group would meet in private homes a few afternoons a week. Then, the fledgling organization found a temporary home at the log cabin owned by the Union County Historical Society on the fairgrounds property.

The group became more structured and hired professional staff. New Day Enterprises, Inc. moved to occupy several rooms in the Joseph Building, formerly the St. Joseph Hospital. In 1982, New Day had 16 clients and a four-person staff. The program featured lots of socialization, bowling dancing, coloring and simple craft projects. Today we have more than eighty clients in the various service elements. We are one of the larger employers in La Grande with a staff of more than eighty.

In 1983 and 1984 the first elements of employment were introduced. New Day clients worked in a rudimentary wood shop to make birdhouses for the Fish and Wildlife Department. The first janitorial contract began with two clients cleaning the local Vocational Rehabilitation offices twice a week. Today, in addition to work activities at the center and in the community, we have two subsidiary businesses run by and for New Day clients. In 1990, with the first Economic Development grant given to a nonprofit organization in the State of Oregon, Blue Mountain Caskets began. Wooden, cloth-covered caskets are made exclusively for Puget Sound Casket. They are then sold and distributed to funeral homes in Oregon Washington, Idaho and Alaska. Just a few years ago, New Day purchased an existing business, Apple Tree Country Store. It was been added upon and is now Apple Tree Embridery &Screen Printing. Check out Apple Tree County Store for gift ideas and wonderful locally made products.