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Success Stories

New Coolers and LED Lighting Installed in Rural South Dakota Cheese Factory

Tammi Schone
REAP
Dimock Dairy photo

Dimock Cheese is the oldest artisan cheese plant in South Dakota. They have been making quality cheese since 1931.  The factory, located 15 minutes south of Mitchell on Highway 37, is in the breadbasket of the heartland. The retail store is established in Dimock, with a population of 131. The dairy offers twenty-three varieties of premium cheese, along with eight original cheese spreads. The milk used is produced locally by small dairy farmers and all the cheese is handmade.

In May of 2019, the factory and its 12 employees moved into a 7,700 square foot building for retail, cutting and packaging cheese products and cold storage. The existing coolers and lighting were inefficient  and not feasible to relocate these items into the new space.

Dimock Dairy, Inc. utilized a grant through USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program in the amount of $20,000, leveraging it with an applicant contribution of $80,928 for a total project cost of $100,928. Energy efficiency improvements were made with the purchase and installation of new coolers and LED lighting within the new building. In June of 2019, a Dimock Fun Day/Cheese Fest was held to showcase the new location.

Denny Everson, a partner in Dimock Cheese, said, “It was business generating grant programs like the energy saving program that enticed he and his partners to expand into a new retail facility.  The reception and assistance received from USDA Rural Development office while applying for the grant was excellent!  A real small business/government team effort.“

Along with providing the cheese through the Dimock location, the factory also delivers to stores in six states, including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and California. The cheese can be shipped across the United States. Be sure to look for the Dimock Cheese label at your local grocery store and try some today.

Obligation Amount:
$20,000 REAP
Year(s) of Obligation:
Congressional District:
Johnson