LA GRANDE — A former bank building on Adams Avenue has a new owner.

Reed & Associates Insurance, an independent insurance agency with more than 30 years of experience, has moved from Island City to 904 Adams Ave., the former Community Bank building, in downtown La Grande.

“Previously I was located in an office behind C&M in Island City, and now I’m right in the middle of downtown La Grande,” Kevin Reed, the owner, said.

Reed was outgrowing his Island City office space and was contemplating building a new office, but when the price of construction became prohibitive, he decided that purchasing the former Community Bank building was a better choice for him.

So, after some minor remodeling, the agency moved into its new site last April.

“We painted the inside, put all new flooring in and put up a new wall,” Reed said. “We’re going to redo the parking lot and eventually repaint the outside.”

The move was made complete Tuesday, Oct. 31, when the agency’s new sign went up.

Reed & Associates is an independent agency that specializes in Medicare.

While that’s been the agency’s focus through the years, the business has expanded into home and auto insurance, annuities and life insurance and health insurance.

The agency was founded in Grants Pass by Reed in 1991.

“I was raised in Grants Pass and graduated from Southern Oregon University with a business degree,” he said. “I started selling insurance right away in Grants Pass.”

After moving to La Grande in 2001, he set up his office in his home on Fruitdale Lane.

Then he bought a small office in Island City, where he conducted business for 10 years.

“That building had four offices and about 1,000 square feet of space,” he said. “We needed more help and didn’t have room for anybody. Now we have 3,300 square feet of space, and we’re in a more prominent location. We knew this would be a good move for us.”

At Reed & Associates, Reed handles the business administration, financial services like fixed annuities and Medicare.

He is supported by his administrative assistant, Bobbi Kunselman, who joined the agency full-time last July, taking the place of Kara Thiesen, a longtime and valued employee who retired, Reed said.

Reed is also supported by a staff of agents, including his son, Cade, who was raised in La Grande and graduated last April from Eastern Oregon University with a business degree. He joined the agency in May and works with all facets of the business.

Nicole Cathey has been with Reed & Associates for 15 years, and she works with Medicare and life insurance.

Caroline Baker has been an agent at Reed & Associates for five years and works with home and auto policies.

Nicki Cribbs is involved with Medicare and health insurance, and she has been with the agency for four years.

Reed & Associates is a member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce and is a booster club member of both EOU and La Grande High School.

“We love this community, and we love helping people,” Reed said. “Supporting this community and its members’ insurance needs is what we will continue to do.”

Reed said that reputation is everything, and being honest and giving people good service is the centerpiece of what Reed & Associates does.

Over the past 30 years, Reed

has served second- and third-generation clients despite the changes that have happened in the insurance industry.

As an independent agency, Reed & Associates represents their clients versus the insurance companies, providing guidance and the best options for their clients’ insurance needs, Reed said.

“Relationships are important to us,” he said, “and we have a unique atmosphere here at Reed & Associates. The staff here are good, kind people who want to do right for others.”