ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Economic development continues to happen throughout Southwest Kansas, with one of those projects officially opening this past weekend.
Saturday, Gov. Laura Kelly joined federal, state, and local officials to officially mark the opening of Hilmar Cheese Company's new production facility in Dodge City. Founded in 1984, Hilmar Cheese Company is one of the world’s largest producers of high-quality cheese and whey products. Hilmar joins a long line of food production companies investing in Kansas since the start of the Kelly Administration.
“I am pleased Hilmar Cheese Company chose to build its new production facility in Dodge City,” Gov. Kelly noted in a release from the State of Kansas. “This investment in our state is a strong signal to industry leaders around the globe that Kansas has the workforce and infrastructure for companies to be competitive. Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc. is one of the world’s largest cheese manufacturers and a global supplier of high-quality whey ingredients. Hilmar’s new Dodge City facility makes American style cheese which is then sold wholesale to customers and used in a variety of nutritious foods. The site also produces a wide range of high-quality innovative proteins to meet the needs of customers worldwide.”
“We are grateful to the state and local officials who supported this project and are thrilled to celebrate with them today,” Hilmar’s President and CEO David Ahlem noted in the release from the State of Kansas. “We chose to build in Dodge City because of the local and skilled labor force, supportive and expanding agricultural region, and excellent transportation network. The superior collaboration with local, regional, and state leaders in Kansas has further confirmed that we made the right choice.”
The site incorporates the latest technology in sustainability and conservation. The advanced instrumentation and automated control systems minimize the water needed to keep the plant clean and reduces energy use. Recycled water is used further to process protein, clean the facility and equipment, and reclaim heat, according to the State of Kansas release.
“The sustainability effort continues throughout the site with efficient pumps and equipment,” the State of Kansas release noted. “These features will decrease the plant’s Green House Gas (GHG) intensity and minimize water use. Hilmar is part of the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment to achieve a carbon neutral dairy industry by 2050. The advancements in Dodge City will help Hilmar meet this goal. Hilmar is committed to being an industry leader in innovation and sustainability. A state-of-the-art pipe design will minimize the water needed to keep the plant clean, and recycled water will be used to clean the facility and equipment. Automated systems will improve overall energy efficiency. And native and drought tolerant landscaping will decrease the company’s greenhouse gas footprint and minimize water use.”
Hilmar’s Dodge City site now employs nearly 250 people and represents more than $600 million in capital investment. The project received praised when the ground was broken on the site in September 2022.
“No matter how you slice it, this new Hilmar Cheese facility is a game-changer for southwest Kansas,” Gov. Kelly noted in a September 2022 State of Kansas release. “Hilmar’s investment represents the fact that more and more companies believe they can succeed in every corner of this state thanks to our excellent workforce, strong infrastructure, and growing economy.”
“Kansas is a global leader in food production, and Hilmar’s decision to locate their new facility here makes perfect sense,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland noted in the September 2022 State of Kansas release. “This further strengthens our state’s already efficient food supply chain and will benefit local producers as well. Hilmar is exactly the type of company we want in Kansas.”
