by Isabella Carwile | Feb 12, 2026 | Blight Projects, Brownfield, Business Expansion, Community, For Sale, Funding, Jobs, Land Bank, PCED Office, Property Development, Residential
PAULDING – The Paulding County Mayors Association recently met for the first quarter meeting. Eight of the county’s eleven villages were represented, demonstrating the growing engagement and collaboration throughout the county.
Special guest Ohio House Representative Jim Hoops shared with the group his intent to run for the Ohio House Senate seat. There was extensive discussion in regard to ongoing property tax reform efforts, outlining potential impacts on local governments and residents. His presentation encouraged continued communication between residents, local and state officials.
Megan Deneen attended on behalf of House Representative Josh Williams. Deneen shared an update on Williams’ intent to run for the 9th District Congressional seat and local projects he has already been discussing, making sure village leaders were aware.
Scott Sands, representing the Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office, introduced himself and distributed contact information, reinforcing the office’s commitment to accessibility and support for local governments.
Estee Blair of the Maumee Valley Planning Organization provided an update on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, encouraging villages to explore available funding opportunities for community improvement projects. Blair identified which programs have open slots for this allocation year in the county.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey shared that the 2026 Ohio allocated residential and commercial blight funding for the county Land Bank has been reduced to $230,000 this year. Previous years have been $500,000. There are identified properties remaining from the 2025 applications that were not submitted for clean-up, so there is already a list for 2026 review. Copsey did ask the village representatives to share worst case properties for additional consideration before the 2026 list is completed, but assured the group that the county will use all allocated funding again this year.
Copsey also requested that all villages review and submit updated zoning maps to share with the county engineer’s office, and also to help with future planning and redevelopment efforts.
During open community input, Gabby Hook, Fiscal Officer for the Village of Grover Hill, asked the group for advice and suggestions regarding potential assistance or funding sources for residents experiencing well failures. The failure of local wells and accompanying water issue has been a concern and seems to be growing. The area leaders discussed similar situations from the past and shared possible avenues for water and financial support.
The meeting concluded with reminders that continued collaboration is essential to strengthening the Paulding County communities and economy.
by Isabella Carwile | Jan 16, 2026 | Blight Projects, Brownfield, Business Expansion, Community, Funding, Land Bank, Property Development, Residential
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release January 19, 2026
PAULDING – The Paulding County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) opened its first meeting of 2026 with updates on several major housing, brownfield, and blight-removal initiatives underway around the county.
The meeting began with a discussion involving a collaborative six-county Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) grant application. Estee Blair of the Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) is coordinating the regional grant request on behalf of Defiance, Fulton, Henry, Paulding, Putnam, and Williams counties. The joint application was submitted to the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) ahead of the January 16 deadline, with the goal of securing funding that would then be distributed to all participating counties through MVPO.
The conversation then shifted to open and ongoing WHO-funded projects already taking place within Paulding County. In 2025, the county was awarded $300,000 to complete ten residential rehabilitation projects before a June 2027 deadline. Three projects are currently active. Work at 714 N. Main Street in Paulding is nearing completion and will be the first of the ten required county projects finished. Additional rehabilitation efforts are underway at 108 S. Main Street in Cecil and 621 Sugar Street in Paulding. More projects are expected to begin as current projects complete.
Environmental consultant Matt Wagner of Tetra Tech reported that all remediation work is complete at the former JJ Ross Gas Station site in Grover Hill. The final step prior to sale is the issuance and receipt of a No Further Action letter from the Ohio EPA.
Wagner also confirmed that the Land Bank will submit new brownfield applications for the 2026 funding cycle. Proposed projects include environmental reviews at 126 S. Main Street in Payne, 501 North Avenue in Oakwood, and 495 E. Perry Street in Paulding. Additional site funding may also be applied for at the former Spartech Plastics facility, pending review of recent environmental data and coordination between the current property owner and the Land Bank.
MVPO’s Abby White then provided updates on the county’s 2025 Commercial and Blight Removal Program. Only a few properties remain in the open pipeline, and the program’s funds are expected to be fully utilized as those projects conclude. The committee then began reviewing the remaining 2025 projects that were not allocated funding and added newly submitted 2026 proposals. A finalized list will be submitted soon for the county’s $250,000 2026 allocation.
Additional committee business included:
- Reported a current account balance of $157,631.21
- Work updates on open brownfield projects at the Grizzley and Stokely sites in Paulding
- Establishing property maintenance plans for Land Bank-owned property ahead of spring
- Approving a meeting date change to February 4 due to member scheduling conflicts
