The dairy farmer owners and cheesemakers of Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery opened their new $26 million creamery in Menomonie, Wisconsin. The $26.1 million project is expected to create 42 jobs.

The 60,000 square foot specialty cheesemaking facility began production in February with the retail store opening in April. The creamery replaced the cooperative’s aging Comstock Creamery.

“The Menomonie Creamery is an exciting new part of the Cooperative,” said Paul Bauer, the cooperative’s CEO. “In its 112 years of operations this is the Creamery’s first new facility. We look forward to the growth and prosperity this location and community offer our member owners. A special thank you to the City of Menomonie and WEDC for making this possible for the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery.”

WEDC supported the project by offering up to $500,000 in state tax credits to the creamery. The actual amount of tax credits the Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery will receive depends on the amount of capital investment and number of jobs created.

“This new facility will allow Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery to share the wonders of Wisconsin cheese curds with even more people,” said Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. “The more than $26 million investment in this facility will allow the creamery to grow nationally and internationally as well as develop additional specialty cheeses.”

The Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery has more than 250 dairy farmer members. The cooperative is best known for its cheese curds, succeeding in getting Governor Tony Earl to declare Ellsworth the “Cheese Curd Capital of Wisconsin” in 1983. With the popularity of its curds still growing, the cooperative has now trademarked “Cheese Curd Capital.”