by Isabella Carwile | Dec 17, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, New Business, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast, Property Development, Shoutout
This week, we dive into a new endeavor in Paulding County. We talk with board members Doug Schlatter, Jane Nice, and Dave Nice about the new Reclaimed Living Sober Transitional House and how it will benefit Paulding County. Big thank you to OhioMeansJobs for sponsoring this program. You can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or listen online at www.my1027.org/paulding-county-business-weekly/. Paulding County Business Weekly is also available in podcast form through Apple, Google & Spotify. #pauldingcountystrong
by Isabella Carwile | Dec 11, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Property Development, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release
PAULDING– The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office hosted the fourth quarter Business Advisory Council (BAC) Committee meeting this week. The meeting was held in the newly remodeled OSU Extension building on the campus of the Paulding County Fairgrounds.
Twenty-one business leaders and educators introduced themselves so participants understood where and how each attendee fits into Paulding County’s growth. The event was moderated by PCED Director Tim Copsey. Copsey shared how the council is stronger with participation and how it can benefit school, student, and business relationships around the county, for the future.
Guests heard a summary of recent BAC Steering Committee activity. The committee meets quarterly for months just prior to full council meetings. This committee digs deeper into the details of how to develop collaboration between businesses and educators and helps guide future development within the BAC. For the 2024-25 school year BAC template submission to the Ohio Education Association, 28 programs were identified and reported that were taking place between businesses and educators in the county. This committee is now reviewing each of these programs individually to see if they remain viable, are relevant to business today, and if we can emulate them at other schools or businesses within the county. The review will continue throughout the year.
As they started out in the past, this group was mentored by other high-performing BAC groups around the state. The Ottawa County BAC has offered an invite for the Paulding County members to join in one of their upcoming meetings to see how they run their BAC and if anything could be learned for the future. The group will look at the date and see if there might be an opportunity to participate in a collaborative meeting soon.
Discussion also took place regarding connecting with last year’s high school graduates. It would be of interest to the BAC to be able to share open employment opportunities, from around the county, with graduates and with current college students. This would allow students to see employment opportunities, within their field of study, as they determine their employment future.
One highlighted area, for possible improvement from the committee, is with the OhioMeansJobs employment portal. It was noted that this seems cumbersome for students. A meeting has been scheduled to see if there may be an opportunity to walk through this portal with students and OMJ state leadership to see how training may help, or if there needs to be some tweaking to the portal itself. Results will be shared with the committee at a future meeting.
All three county high schools addressed the group sharing new and exciting things taking place with each of them. Superintendent Rick Turner shared updates from Vantage Career Center and Northwest State Community College Van Wert campus Dean of Students Jon Tomlinson shared information in regard to the college.
Copsey closed out the meeting sharing information about potential opportunities that have taken place in other nearby counties that the BAC should consider. This included a business breakfast at Patrick Henry High School and an elementary business expo at Holgate Elementary. Also shared were dates of April 2 for the Paulding County Business, College, and Career Showcase and June 2-5 & 9 for the 2025 Paulding County Teacher Bootcamp. The boot camp is provided by the State of Ohio to offer local high school administrators and educators the opportunity go out to tour and meet local business professionals while receiving continuing college credit.
The PC BAC will convene again in February with a Steering Committee meeting and a full membership meeting in March
by Isabella Carwile | Dec 10, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, Membership, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release
PAULDING, OH – The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Board of Directors gathered for their final lunch meeting of 2024 to establish final details for a 2025 operating budget. Lively discussion took place as the group listened to recommendations from the Financial Committee and analyzed both income and expense line items to try and establish a final budget for next year.
Economic Development Director Tim Copsey updated the board on current project updates including the potential 80-acre development project near the US24/Highway 49 intersection in Antwerp; a water/sewer feasibility study at the US24/Highway 127 interchange; the Grizzley and Stokely brownfield projects and the 53-acre industrial park all located in Paulding Village.
Old business discussions included marketing updates on the PCED website and a business vehicle purchase. The Marketing Committee is looking at updates on the company website to modernize a section explaining the history of the county. The hope is that the summary will be more about recent economic development and less about the actual history of the county. A future committee meeting is scheduled.
Discussion also continued regarding the purchase of a company vehicle for the office. Paying out mileage for monthly company-driven miles is getting more expensive and often fluctuates depending on inside and outside-of-county business travel. The hope is that a purchased vehicle will allow more standard control of monthly costs. The project will continue to be studied and evaluated by the financial committee before a final decision is voted on.
Regarding new business, the financial committee proposed a thought to the board in a potential future conversion of office accounting, from a traditional Quickbooks program to a not-for-profit accounting system. There is a full understanding the accounting would be quite different, but it may be more accurate accounting for the larger amount of earmarked funds the office is handling. This will also be a continued board discussion.
The board also started the opening process of putting together a slate of 2025 officers. This slate will be presented to be voted on in the January 2025 board meeting.
The meeting closed out with the board members each sharing business updates with each other. This sharing of information often entices collaboration and powerful business discussions for future economic development throughout the county.
by Isabella Carwile | Sep 9, 2024 | Community, Events, Membership
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release September 9, 2024
OAKWOOD – A staple Paulding County venue for outdoor activities held a kick-off event here to introduce their fall line-up on Saturday. Paulding County Economic Development hosted a ribbon cutting for Auglaize Canoe & Kayak, on the Weller Farm, to unveil their two new corn mazes and many other events and opportunities for the 2024 fall season. The big attraction is the nine-acre corn maze. This year the maze will be patterned for the logo of “Limitless” in Paulding.
Liz Weller, Auglaize Canoe and Kayak business owner, shared how the collaboration came about, “Our family loves everything about Limitless and we are so excited to design our corn maze in their honor. As you follow the path around the maze you will learn several facts about Limitless, revealing three of their positive mottos”.
In addition to the large corn maze, new this year is a smaller “Jurassic” themed maze that allows for younger family members to also participate in the fun. There will be upcoming announcements on a trick-or-treat event hosted inside the maze, helicopter candy drop and also an evening flashlight event.
If corn mazes aren’t your thing, guests can walk through the four-acre pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin, or simply choose one of the already picked pumpkins. They are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. Also available is a wagon ride around the farm with a spectacular fall view along the river the beautiful Auglaize River. The family owned 1947 Allis Chalmers tractor will pull a wagon full of guests on a guided tour of straw bales complete with “celebrity themed” scarecrows. The ride continues through a skeleton themed movie reenactment with a fan favorite celebrity participant at the end to complete the ride.
In addition, there are many other opportunities for guests of all ages to participate or view. Fall wouldn’t be complete without fresh-pressed apple cider, which the Weller family makes on site with their antique cider press, and has full gallon or half gallon options available for purchase. There is putt-putt golf, a youth barrel train ride, a playground including a child size cabin, bounce house, a campfire to enjoy sitting near the river by the fire or cooking smores, ample fall picture setting opportunities for fall themed senior or family pictures, selfies, beautiful fall nature in general, and much more. In addition to the cider, the farm also produces honey. The canoe and kayak livery options continue to be open and available. A variety of participating food trucks will be on site on weekends.
The Weller Farm, owned by Doug & Bonnie Weller, started hosting the Canoe & Kayak venue in 2013. As business and attendance picked up, additional opportunities were added and offered. In 2021 the pumpkin patch and corn mazes were added. The Wellers continue to listen to feedback from guests and strive to improve. The input helps with growth through new business options each year. The farm is now the largest importer of guests to Paulding County. In 2023 the facility hosted more than 10,000 customers. Business is well on pace to exceed that number in 2024.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey noted, “The Auglaize Canoe and Kayak business, located on the Weller Farm, just continues to improvise and adjust to customer requests and demand. It is just astounding to drive over the Auglaize River and see the amount of boaters in the water, knowing all the other activities on the farm are busy too. The corn maze just adds to the interest and pulls attendance from all over the region.”
Come out and see everything the farm has to offer for a quick visit or spend the day. Whether you live in the city, and yearn to feel a little bit of the natural outdoors, or live in the country and experience this atmosphere all the time, Weller Farm offers a new experience for you. The farm, located at 24821 Road 207 just off the Putnam/Paulding County line road, is open 9a-5p on Saturdays and noon-5p on Sunday, through October 31.
There is also opportunity to schedule weekday and evening events by appointment. The farm has hosted school field trips, youth groups and family reunions, but there is always room to discuss options for any other group opportunities for interested guests. For admission pricing or more detailed information, call 419-594-3456, visit the website www.auglaizecanoe.com or check their social media on Facebook or Instagram. This year there are $1 off admission price coupons available at the Limitless store or PC Workshop in Paulding.
by Isabella Carwile | Sep 6, 2024 | Community, Events, Jobs, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release Sept. 3, 2024
Paulding – The Van Wert County Economic Development office will be hosting a “Build your Future” event on September 18th, 2024 at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds. All Paulding County schools are invited to attend this year’s event. This event will be divided into two sessions – a morning session + afternoon session.
Here’s a recap of the event.
Vantage students in Carpentry, Construction, Electricity, Industrial Mechanics, & Welding, along with local business partners & sponsors, provide local freshman & sophomores hands on activities related to the Industrial field. The students work their way through multiple booths featuring different activities where they can weld, frame a wall, use a skid loader, etc.
The event will bring freshman & sophomore students from all three Paulding County high schools to learn about, meet and discuss future opportunities with area businesses.
“This event is an opportunity for students to become familiarized with local business and what they do, gain awareness of various careers, get leads on summer employment and much more. We understand that each student is in a different place with job and future education decisions. Our hope with this event is to meet students where they are in that decision process and help provide them with numerous options to consider for their future.” stated Economic Development, Administer Assistant, Jessica Stechschulte.
The event will run 1st session; 9 am – 11 am. 2nd session; 12 pm- 2 pm. Each school will then bus their students to the event on the hour for forty-five minutes.
Students will be provided with all safety PPE materials needed upon arrival.
by Isabella Carwile | Jul 16, 2024 | Community, Events, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast
This week on the Paulding County Business Weekly podcast, we hear from Paulding County Director of Waste Management Education & Awareness (WMEA) Shannon Ruschel. She will explain about the upcoming county special recycling day event that includes the collection of tires, e-waste, fluorescent bulbs, and water-based paint. She also touches on recycling around the county and the collaboration it takes to make it all happen.
We can’t thank OhioMeansJobs enough for sponsoring this program and the team at My102.7FM for making it happen. Tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or
Click Here to Listen Online!Paulding County Business Weekly is also available in podcast form through Apple, Google & Spotify.
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