Paulding County Prepares for Growth – Antwerp to Annex Property

by Isabella Carwile | Apr 9, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), Events, PCED Office, Property Development, Shoutout

Paulding County Economic Development Press Release                                                                                               April 9, 2025

ANTWERP – Paulding County is preparing for its own future growth as major project investment takes place in surrounding counties.  This week, the Powell, Ohio-based development group BMJW Investments LLC, with affiliate entity MWB Investments LLC, closed on three parcels totaling approximately 89 acres of “ready to develop” property in the northeast corner of the US24/Highway 49 intersection.  This location is on the south end of the Village of Antwerp.  Sitting along US24, the site is 20 miles west of Defiance, Ohio, and 15 miles east of the I-469 loop around Fort Wayne, IN.  With all the growth taking place in both northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio, this location has unlimited potential for future growth.

This exciting development project has been on the county’s radar since the new four-lane US24 highway opened in 2012.  Since that time the Antwerp/Payne/Paulding County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) has had an option to purchase 64 acres on the north end of this property from owners Don & Elaine Benschneider.  As CIC discussions with BMJW Investments began, they quickly realized that in addition to those 64 acres, they would also need to purchase the 19 acres owned by the Marlin family and 8 additional acres of property owned by the Antwerp Community Church.  With both of those parcels having US24 frontage, it was critical to incorporate these parcels to maximize the development potential for the project site.

BMJW investments worked closely with the CIC and each seller to develop purchase agreements on the properties.  Finally, on the last day of March 2025, the stars aligned, and the BMJW team was able to close on the entire property, totaling nearly 89 acres.

Unlike the Benschneider and church parcels already sitting in the village limits, the Marlin farm property sits in Carryall Township.  The property has been a topic for discussion between village and township officials, for a while, and is expected to be annexed into the village following a review of the project by county commissioners.

Similar to other recent development projects in Paulding County, this project has been an incredible collaboration of entities from all over the county and state.  Included in the project discussions were the Antwerp Village Council, CIC, Carryall Township, the Benschneider family, the Marlin Family, the Antwerp Community Church, the Antwerp Exchange Bank, the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office, BMJW Investment team, the Paulding County Commissioners and the Ohio Department of Development.

CIC President Tom VanVlerah remarked, “Having worked with so many people and groups these past years, it is a pleasure to see this project come to fruition.  I’m very proud of all who worked to make this happen. Past and current members of the CIC team have invested lots of time to bring this development to where it is now. We are thankful for all the support and effort, and to BMJW Investments, and look forward to seeing the future of Antwerp possibilities.”

Currently identified as the “Antwerp Square” project in tentative development plans, the residential portion of the project will potentially begin on the north end of the property, adjacent to the Antwerp Local School complex.  The CIC had previously been donated a property, along the east side of Highway 49, that connects the highway with this development property.  The property was donated by Leo & Jane Stumphy and included an older outbuilding.  The building was removed by Ben Kauser Excavating to make room for a new public road which was 75% funded by a grant from the Ohio Department of Development.  The CIC paid for the other 25% of the road infrastructure cost.  The road, including curbs and adequate surface drainage, is in place and ready for use.

John Wicks, managing member of BMJW Investments, stated, “We are excited about all the potential this development project could bring to Antwerp and Paulding County.  It has been a pleasure to work with the CIC, local governments, and property owners in what has truly felt like a partnership throughout our due diligence and acquisition processes.  We look forward to collaborating with local and regional builders, businesses and investors to create an inspired mixed-use community”.

BMJW Investments will be looking to speak with interested building and development groups including, but not limited to, single-family residential builders, duplex and triplex builders, multi-family residential, senior living, service sector facilities and offices, light manufacturing, and retail and commercial opportunities, including a hotel, travel plaza, and restaurants.

The PCED office is currently collecting funds to update a hotel study that was completed for the region in 2019.  Updating the study will put data into real, post-covid numbers and will provide the information needed for potential hotel builders to review, and decide if building the first hotel in the county in decades, can be successful.

Tim Copsey, Economic Director, added, “This type of forward thinking, collaboration and investment is what Paulding County needs.  This project provides us an opportunity for overall population growth, increase in student count, and a capacity for business growth.  It is exciting to get this project past the point of a dream and actually taking place.  Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the potential is wide open here now!”

The development could begin construction in 2025 pending agreements with potential buyers of at least 2 subareas within the mixed-use development.  For questions, opportunities or interest in the project please contact the Paulding County Economic Development office 419-399-8282.