Juniper Ridge lot sells for just over $1 million

After moving six times in the last 12 years, BMS Technologies feels it’s finally found a permanent home. The Bend mailing services company just purchased a lot in the industrial park area of Juniper Ridge in Bend for just over $1 million.

The lot — the first sold at the controversial city-owned site in years — sits next to Northeast Cooley Road and 18th Street, directly across the street from Les Schwab headquarters. City councilors approved the deal last week, as they adopted a staff-proposed new procedure for selling the seven available lots.

BMS works with USPS, along with several waste companies.

Officials said the move will allow them to increase production by 20 percent and increase staff by up to 70 people.

“We have high demand on production, which is running some of the equipment,” BMS CEO Nick Di Spaltro said Thursday. “We always need backups. We also need multi-shift type work. So we’re looking at trying to fill those spots.”

BMS currently operates out of two buildings in Bend, but the move will allow it to bring all its operations under one roof.

“We can be much more efficient in production,” Di Spaltro said. “Our employee base has the facilities to be more efficient, and stuff like that. So we’re really looking forward to that.”

BMS wants the new building to be energy-efficient, and plans to add solar panels in addition to its paper recycling process.