Business & Economy

Agriculture is a major part of Dalhart’s healthy economy, health care, tourism and state corrections also help contribute to the strength of the local economy. Retailers and other businesses find lots of opportunity for success in this Panhandle community as well. The workforce is diverse and includes skilled labor, public safety officers, and other professionals.Several groups have contributed to our successful economic development – including the City of Dalhart and Dallam and Hartley counties as they established the Dalhart Economic Development Corporation. Assistance through the 4B sales tax has resulted in several community improvement projects including the remodeled coliseum, swimming pool renovations, and more. The High Ground of Texas and the High Plains Dairy Council have both played a huge role in promoting economic success in the Dalhart area.

The High Plains Dairy Council has been extremely successful in attracting dairies to the area. HPDC, with help from Dalhart, Dumas, Amarillo and the State of Texas, successfully recruited the Hilmar Cheese plant. Hilmar Cheese, an outstanding manufacturing facility on the West Coast, selected Dalhart as the home of their second plant. The groundbreaking took place in the spring of 2006 and the plant began producing cheese in October 2007.

The addition of the new Hilmar Cheese Facility and growing dairy industry, the future for a strong economy in Dalhart continues to look promising. It is estimated the capital investments for these two aspects of our local economy will total around $200 million.

Large employers include the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Union Pacific and Santa Fe railroads, Dalhart Independent School District, and Dallam/Hartley Counties Hospital District. Other industries with a growing employee base include confined animal feeding operations, financial services, technology services, dairies, farming, ranching and more.

Although agriculture is a major part of the area’s healthy economy, retailers and other businesses find opportunities for success in the community as well. The workforce is diverse and includes skilled labor, public safety officers and other professionals.

Dalhart is home to a number of locally owned retail businesses, restaurants and quaint antique stores. If you are looking for new trends or old-world antiques, Dalhart has it all and more! More businesses are opening and local businesses continue to grow.