Community leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, 2015, for Custom Ag Formulators Inc., the first industry to locate in the new industrial park on U.S. Highway 41 south of Adel.
Local officials expect the Fresno, Calif.- based industry’s location of its new facility here to mark the continuing first stages of a positive turnaround in Cook County’s economy. The facility is scheduled to open during the first quarter of 2016.
Mayor Buddy Duke, chairman of the Cook County Economic Development Commission, and commission members, announced Custom Ag Formulators Inc. has made a major investment in Adel. The company, whose corporate office is located in Fresno, Calif., will construct the new facility in Cook County’s 3,000-acre South Georgia Megasite. Phase I of the project will create 16 jobs, and represents over $800,000 in capital investment, which includes the facility, land, and machinery and equipment. Plans for Phase II will be announced within 24 months and will represent a capital investment and job creation comparable to Phase I.
"We welcome Custom Ag Formulators to our business community and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship," Duke said. "I am confident that our county's competitive assets, including our strategic location and highly capable workforce, will prove beneficial for the future growth of the company."
Custom Ag Formulators, a national and international provider of agricultural products, offers a diverse assortment of liquid adjuvants, nutrients, frost protectants, insect attractants, and various specialty products. Their ability to offer private labeling with a custom formula has set them apart from the competition.
In March 2004, the company moved into their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters in Fresno, Calif., enabling them to increase their production abilities in both liquid and dry blending. In 2004, the company also partnered with Growth Ag, a well-known Australian distributor, and opened a second bottling facility in Australia. The Goondiwindi location has enabled faster shipping to the Southern Hemisphere while maintaining the same quality bottling and packaging standards that is offered in Custom Ag’s Fresno facility.
“A large portion of our client base is located in the southeastern U.S. This strong client base, Cook County’s ideal location, business friendly climate, ready workforce, and strong support from community leadership create excellent conditions for success," said Gerald (Jerry) Steward, CEO of Custom Ag Formulators. “Our company has established an excellent relationship with the Cook County Economic Development Commission and other state and local officials, and we certainly appreciate all the work they have done to make this project happen."
"We are delighted that Custom Ag Formulators has chosen to locate in Adel, Georgia," said Lisa Collins, director of economic development for the Cook County Economic Development Commission (EDC). “The company's commitment to create jobs and capital investment will have a strong and positive impact in our community and our region.
“Furthermore, Custom Ag Formulators will be a great addition to the agricultural chemical industries that are currently located here, and will further enable the EDC to examine workforce and industry data to determine other potential industries that can be recruited to Cook County to create buyer-supplier and shared resource clusters to support the industries.”
The company will begin construction in the next 30 days and expects to be open for business by the first quarter of 2016.
During Tuesday morning’s groundbreaking ceremony, Michael Dinnerman, ViceChairman of the Cook County Economic Development Commission (EDC), welcomed the crowd to “a new beginning in Cook County.” He recognized special guests, including state, local, and federal dignitaries as well as the industry representatives, and gave opening remarks.
“This is a milestone. Custom Ag Formulators is the first company to locate in the South Georgia Megasite,” he said. “All of our hard work has finally paid off.”
He assured the Custom Ag Formulators management and ownership that they won’t be disappointed in the Cook County location. “We will work with you to make your Georgia location a great success,” he said.
The Rev. Bill Marlette, senior pastor at the First Baptist Church of Adel, gave the invocation and asked for God’s blessings on the new local venture.
Mayor Buddy Duke also commented during the ceremony. He said he anticipates a long and prosperous future for Custom Ag Formulators with the City as they work together to grow our economy.
Jody Redding, representing U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, and Charles White, representing U.S. Senator David Perdue, read letters from the Senators congratulating the community and welcoming the new industry to Georgia. State Senator Ellis Black also expressed appreciation for and optimism about the industry’s choice of locations.
Brent Dixon, Chairman of the Adel Industrial Development Authority (AIDA), introduced Custom Ag Formulators.
Jerry Steward, CEO of Custom Ag Formulators, then commented about how smoothly the effort went in bringing the facility to Cook County, and he thanked local leaders and the State of Georgia for that. Maybe one day the corporate office will be located here, he said, getting applause from those gathered for the ceremony. Two warehouses are being closed and relocated to Adel.
The local manufacturing facility will enable Custom Ag Formulators to basically cover the world and international shipments will be made from the local site, Steward said. He assured the community that the new facility would be operated very cleanly.
“I feel we will make a difference in the State of Georgia,” he said. “This will be the start of something that will help Georgia grow.”
All of Custom Ag Formulator’s new employees will be hired from this area, he added. He urged anyone interested to contact the company or economic development officials. XX
About Custom Ag Formulators, Inc.
Custom Ag Formulators, Inc. was founded in 1998, and its current corporate headquarters is located in Fresno, California. The company, a national and international provider of agricultural products, offers a diverse assortment of liquid adjuvants, nutrients, frost protectants, insect attractants, and various specialty products. The company also provides private labeling with their products, as well as custom formulation and packaging, setting them apart from the competition.
About the Cook County Economic Development Commission
The Cook County Economic Development Commission was created to promote economic growth in Cook County through the attraction of new business and industry, and the retention of existing businesses, by providing the resources that enable development and advance the general well being of the community.
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