Union County: VRCC at Hot Lake Springs

Plans to build and operate the first-of-its-kind Veterans Restorative Care Center (VRCC) at Hot Lake Springs near La Grande received a strong boost from the federal government in the form of a $30,000 grant from USDA Rural Development. When complete, the center will provide counseling, medical services, education, and career training to both veterans and the La Grande community at large. The nonprofit Warrior Bonfire Program (WBP) will use the grant from
USDA to develop a business plan for the strategic development of this $42 million project.
The VRCC’s business plan will incorporate the interests of the Warrior Bonfire Program; the acumen of the oldest accredited naturopathic medical university in North America, the National University of Natural Medicine; and the business know-how of the for-profit company Dyne Aquaculture with the goal of making the new facility largely self-funded in perpetuity. The three partners are benefitted by the expertise and experience of David and Lee Manuel, who have operated Hot Lake Springs for the past 15 years.
“The Warrior Bonfire Program is thankful to USDA for believing in this project. While the project is in the early planning and design phases, the VRCC’s ultimate vision is to offer a complete solution for veterans and their families to heal, while also bringing a significant number of jobs to the local community.” –Mike Foss, President of the Warrior Bonfire Program
The VRCC’s goal is to be the leading provider of naturopathic and Chinese medicine treatments; as well as education, vocational training, mental health,