Custom Ag Formulators, the first industry to locate in the new industrial park on U.S. Highway south of Adel, is only a couple of weeks away from opening its doors, said Jerry Steward, the companyʼs CEO.
The family-owned company has hired Lenny Atkins as plant manager and Susan Griffin as office manager.
Custom Ag Formulators will start out with 16 employees. They will be working on Phase I of the project, which involves a liquid blending operation. Phase I represents more than $800,000 in capital investment, which includes the facility, land, and machinery and equipment.
Plans for Phase II, a dry blending operation, will be announced in coming months and will represent capital investment and job creation comparable to Phase I.
Community leaders held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday morning, Oct. 27, 2015, for the company. Local officials expect the Fresno, Calif.-based industryʼs location of its new facility here to mark a continuing positive turnaround in Cook Countyʼs economy.
Mayor Buddy Duke, chairman of the Cook County Economic Development Commission, and commission members announced Custom Ag Formulatorʼs major investment in Adel. The company, whose corporate office is located in Fresno, Calif., has constructed the new facility in Cook Countyʼs 3,000-acre South Georgia Megasite.
“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 countyʼs 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, according to company officials.
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 (destinations in New Zealand and Asia/Singapore) while maintaining the same quality bottling and packaging standards that is offered in Custom Agʼs Fresno facility.
“A large portion of our client base is located in the southeastern U.S.,” Steward said. “This strong client base, Cook Countyʼs ideal location, business friendly climate, ready workforce, and strong support from our community leadership create excellent conditions for success. 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 companyʼs 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 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.”
During the groundbreaking ceremony, Michael Dinnerman, Vice-Chairman 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 wonʼt 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 Godʼs 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 industryʼs 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, the local economic development team, 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 Formulatorʼs new employees are being hired from this area, Steward emphasized to the Adel News. He also said the company will have a strong involvement in community activities.
“We wanted to be on the East Coast,” Steward said. Adel provides ready access for Custom Ag Formulatorsʼ inbound and outbound shipments through the ports in Savannah and Jacksonville, Fla. He added that the Adel location gives Custom Ag Formulators improved access to the Southern market and distribution locations in Homestead, Fla., Nashville, Tenn., and North Carolina.
Stewardʼs two sons, Ryan and Cameron, work with him in the business, which was founded in 1998. They are joined by the Murray family (a husband and wife) as owners of the company.
When it comes to location, Cook County has it in spades, with all the advantages… ...read more 
People who live in one Southwest Georgia community can now save time and gas when… ...read more
SPARKS, GA - Celebrating the grand opening of Grimmway Farms’ new packing and warehouse center,… ...read more