Paulding County Economic Development Press Release March 24, 2025
PAULDING – The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office is hosting the Annual Business, Industry & College Showcase on Wednesday, April 2nd, from 8:00 am- 12:00 pm. The event is located at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building, located at 503 Fairground Drive in Paulding 45879. Junior and senior students from Antwerp, Paulding, Wayne Trace, and Continental schools will attend to meet and learn more about the businesses, colleges, and non-profit businesses in attendance. The Public is also welcome to attend.
In preparing students for this event, the PCED office is visiting with all the county junior and senior students. During the visit, it is explained to students how the showcase flows when they arrive and how this is their opportunity to interact and communicate with colleges, armed forces representatives, social service groups, and regional businesses. It is reiterated that even students that may not be looking to be employed should engage in this event, to learn and understand what businesses and products are available, provided, or manufactured, right here in the county.
PCED Director Tim Copsey explained, “This event is important in that it allows our students to see what Paulding County is and does. It allows our businesses to share what they do and provide to another group of potential customers and employees down the road. We always say you don’t know what you don’t know. Here is the chance to help educate each other about Paulding County and the region.”
In the past students were provided with an educational booklet that included a business description and contact information for most businesses in the area, many of which will be in attendance at the event. This year the PCED office is introducing QR codes to the students. One of the codes will take them to the PCED website where they will find the full booklet, which has grown to 38 pages of information.
A second QR code has been introduced to gather student information for use following graduation. Completing the brief survey, behind the QR code, will allow students access to the weekly PCED Newsletter and also to receive notice of employment opportunities, related to their employment field or college major, while they are in the workforce or attending college.
In addition, thanks to the Vantage Career Center’s investment in all county students, Paulding County students are able to participate in YouScience, a self-assessment module, to identify the best potential career paths, during the school year. Based on their personal assessment results, students are provided a color code for their top three recommended career paths. The businesses will display employment sector opportunities in matching color codes. This should help guide students to their best match-assessed career paths. Collaboration between students, educators, and businesses will continue up to the showcase event date.
“The Paulding County Career Day is a great opportunity for our Junior and Senior students to see what professions are available within our area. This event allows our students to showcase themselves to area businesses and make possible connections for a future job,” noted Shawn Brewer, PFC (Panther for Careers) Coordinator at Paulding Exempted Village School.
“We are excited for our students to explore local businesses and discover potential career opportunities in Paulding County. This event helps students connect their education to real-world pathways for success.” – Elyse Boyer, Director of Curriculum & Technology at Antwerp Local School.
In addition, thanks to the generosity of the Paulding County Area Foundation, all county senior students received a #pauldingcountystrong T-shirt in their school colors with their school mascot included in the logo.
You can find out more about Paulding County Economic Development events and programs online at www.pced.net; on Facebook at Paulding County Economic Development; or email Jessica Stechschulte, Administrator Assistant at office@pced.net.
