by Isabella Carwile | Aug 15, 2025 | Business Advisory Council, Business Expansion, Community, Events, Funding, Jobs, PCED Office, Shoutout, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release August 15, 2025
PAULDING — This week, the Paulding County Business Advisory Council (BAC) Steering Committee was hosted at the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office, bringing together school officials, not-for-profit organizations, and business leaders from across the county to discuss ongoing initiatives and new opportunities for collaboration.
Tim Copsey, Director of Paulding County Economic Development, opened the meeting, congratulating the group for being honored this year as a 3-Star (out of 4) award-winning Educational Service Center (ESC) BAC. The award follows last year’s 2-Star award. “Receiving an improved rating like this means the Ohio Education Association sees exactly what we already believe in Paulding County. Our businesses and schools have always worked together, but now that we document exactly how, and can show data for improved collaboration, it makes us all better, and they see it,” Copsey shared.
One of the best collaborative tools available in the past was Teacher Boot Camp. There was a weeklong schedule developed where educators could visit, tour, and meet local businesses and leaders, and understand how school curriculum could relate to real-world practice. The Teacher Boot Camp funding did not make it into the new Ohio Biennium budget this year. The BAC brainstormed ideas as to how they might be able to provide a smaller tour package, or a different version of boot camp next summer, if the legislature does not find another pocket for funding. The team will continue to explore options, as everyone believes this is a valid piece to align education instruction with real-world workforce needs.
The discussion then turned to businesses going into the educational facilities. One innovative idea discussed was the use of developing a QR code that would invite and allow working parents to promote their business when the curriculum matched up with their employment. If math turned to fractions, perhaps an engineer may come in, or if government class turned to state history, perhaps a local politician. This may open up a whole new opportunity for community engagement and career exploration.
The committee also revisited strategies for strengthening internship programs. Discussion took place in regard to determining if this could be a tool to build deeper connections between education and local businesses. This led to additional conversation about the new definition of apprenticeships and internships and how there may be a disconnect in understanding how they could be a benefit to all. There will be more research and discussion in this realm.
Other key pieces of discussion included:
- Is there an opportunity to rejuvenate the Paulding County Business Weekly podcast with the help of media class students?
- Antwerp Local School (ALS) brought up the desire to have a Junior High “career exploration” type day hosted at the school. The idea was met with good enthusiasm, especially with Wayne Trace Local School representatives, who also expressed interest in collaborating on dates and logistics to make the event a reality.
- ALS also shared their excitement about working on a community art gallery by putting student artwork out into the community, and shared insight on how they will be doing a fundraising project in the community with students maintaining a small business.
The next BAC meeting will take place in mid-September at the OSU Extension Building in Paulding. Anyone with an interest in participating in future meetings, please contact the PCED office at 419-399-8295.
by Isabella Carwile | Aug 15, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, Funding, Property Development
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release August 15, 2025
PAULDING – The Paulding County Land Bank committee has been awarded the opportunity to receive $300,000 in grant reimbursements from the Welcome Home Ohio program through the Ohio Department of Development.
The reimbursement opportunity is available through 10 projects reimbursing $30,000 per project, but projects must be completed by July 1, 2027. Each project must be owned by the Land Bank. The project can be and can be rehabilitating an existing home, by spending $30,000 or more on upgrades, or it could be a new home build, with $30,000 reimbursed toward the cost of that build. In the current grant, the home cannot be sold for more than $180,000 to a low-moderate income (LMI) purchaser. Some additional stipulations must be met and will be covered with a potential buyer prior to a sale.
The Land Bank Committee has meetings coming up with realtor representatives and financial representatives to understand if there are already pre-qualified buyers waiting in hopes of these types of homes.
Additionally, a pre-vetting process is already happening with interested contractors that have an interest in bidding on these rehabilitation or new build opportunities. The Community Housing Impact & Preservation (CHIP) team at Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) will help establish the guidelines and make sure the structures are built to code.
Following initial discussion, the committee went into executive session to discuss potential properties around the county to review as projects. Coming out of executive session, one decision was made to change the project at 621 Sugar Street in Paulding from a demolition to a rehabilitation project. Bids will be advertised through MVPO on the project in the future.
The group was also updated on projects around the county, including:
- Former Grizzly Brake property, both the manufacturing site and the residential sites
- The Stokely Pond remediation project
- Former site remediation at the JJ Ross Gas Station in Grover Hill
- Asbestos removal in the former Winkle Chevrolet building, owned by the Paulding Village and located on the square
- The new Vantage Career Center home is starting in Latty Village this school year
- Created and shared a list of current Land Bank-owned properties around the county
- Noted a current Land Bank account balance of $239,861.58
- Approved a two-night stay and event registration reimbursement to PCED for Tim Copsey to attend the Fall Land Bank Conference in Marietta, Ohio, October 22/23
Wagner then reminded the committee that the Ohio Department of Development awarded Paulding County $85,074 in funding for asbestos removal in the Paulding Village-owned former Winkle Chevrolet building, located on the square. The building has asbestos-wrapped pipes and flooring that will be remediated to make the building safer to work in and allow a seamless future sale if the opportunity arises.
Wagner finished by providing brief environmental updates on the former JJ Ross gas station in Grover Hill and the former Stokely pond property in Paulding.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey noted that zoning changes have been completed on a Land Bank-owned property within the Village of Cecil. This will allow the group to move forward with selling a designated parcel to Patriot Railroad for a potential future transload site.
Copsey also provided the committee with information about the former Grizzly property. It is now under the EPA consultant oversight of T&M Associates in Cleveland. They will continue to collect data with the end goal of providing a clean property to the Land Bank in the future.
In addition, Copsey shared that a recent blighted residential property, purchased in Paulding at 621 Sugar Street, is currently being mowed and maintained until demolition takes place later this year.
Committee discussion then turned to the Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) grant funding. With the help of MVPO, the county has been awarded $300,000 to use for residential blight rehabilitation projects over the next 24 months. The current Land Bank financial balance is $63,904.08, but it was decided that with the influx of funds expected from the previously discussed property sales, the committee will begin looking for one or two residential home rehabilitation projects to purchase and target using these grant funds on. Additional discussion will now begin with realtors, financial groups, and contractors to develop a plan to use the funds accordingly.
by Isabella Carwile | Apr 10, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, Funding, PCED Office, Shoutout, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release April 9, 2025
PAULDING – Lisa Lawson, Project Manager for Bowling Green State University (BGSU) Center for Regional Development (CRD), held a grant writing workshop at the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office here. The session empowered 16 local professionals, representing 13 individual businesses, by equipping them with essential skills to navigate the often complicated world of grants.
Lawson introduced attendees to valuable resources designed to streamline the grant-writing process and enhance their chances of securing funding for their initiatives. “CRD is happy to support our rural community partners as part of our mission under the state-funded Rural Universities Program -to support local economic, community, and public health initiatives. It is also part of our mission at BGSU to serve the public good,” stated Lawson.
Participants explored a wide range of grant exploration opportunities and reviewed critical details needed for submitting effective strategies and pre-planning and successful applications. The attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of the grant landscape, ready to transform their newfound knowledge into actionable results for their organizations.
With the help of the BGSU-CRD team, the PCED office remains committed to fostering growth and empowering local businesses with tools and resources for long-term success.
by Isabella Carwile | Feb 18, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, For Sale, Funding, Jobs, PCED Office, Property Development, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 18, 2025
PAULDING COUNTY – This week JobsOhio Food and Agriculture Director Tim Derickson, and Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) representative Jessica Sattler, joined Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey in conducting five business retention and expansion (BR&E) visits around the county.
The first stop of the day was at Mansfield Welding near the village of Melrose. The family-owned business team was able to display and highlight some agriculture-related fabrication and welding and highlight a new process machine that was purchased with the assistance of a JobsOhio Small Business Grant, awarded in 2024.
The group then traveled and met with team members at Cooper Farms in Oakwood. There was an in-depth conversation about agriculture and the different sectors of the Cooper Farm business, turkey, pork, and chicken. Cooper Farms continues to be a county leader in employment, Ohio TechCred training reimbursement funds, as well as Workforce Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC).
The team made a trek to Antwerp to visit PNJ Enterprises and learn about a small fabrication business that makes automated parts for the food service industry, before heading to the village of Broughton to learn about Nutri-Plus Fertilizer. This family-owned business is annually providing plant nutrition for thousands of acres of crops in the agriculture industry.
The day closed out at Baughman Tile. Baughman is a fifth-generation family-owned business that is celebrating its 142nd year in business. The company manufactures plastic corrugated and solid-walled tiles for the agriculture and commercial industries. The conversation about workforce, business, and the economy was lively.
JobsOhio exists to empower world-class corporations, entrepreneurs, and talented individuals to build their businesses and careers in Ohio. Their advocacy and investments in partnership with the state enable sustainable economic growth and a better quality of life for all Ohioans through the power and dignity of work.
The Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) is the lead economic development organization and one of seven noted regions in the JobsOhio family and represents 17 counties in northwest Ohio. RGP partners with local county economic development offices to offer grants, incentives, and funding programs where applicable.
by Isabella Carwile | Jul 2, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Funding, Jobs, Membership, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast, Workforce
Hear from Tiffany Rockhold, workforce supervisor at OhioMeansJobs, to learn all about the partnership, collaboration, and new programming and services that they offer from both the Paulding and Defiance County offices.
Huge thank you to OhioMeansJobs for sponsoring this program and for being this week’s guest!
You can tune in on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or listen online at https://lnkd.in/d-gMvXxP. Paulding County Business Weekly is also available in podcast form through Apple, Google & Spotify. hashtag#pauldingcountystrong
by Isabella Carwile | Mar 19, 2024 | Business Expansion, Community, Funding, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release March 19, 2024
PAULDING – The Paulding County application for the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) residential and commercial blight program was completed and submitted on March 8. Estee Miller, Maumee Valley Planning Organization, shared with the Land Reutilization Committee (Land Bank) that the application for the residential and commercial blight program included 43 properties from throughout the county. Miller shared that the estimated application price tag for remediation is $1,115,316. The county was allocated $500,000 in the program. Because the county exceeded the allocated amount, there will need to be $154,500 of match money provided by the Land Bank committee if the total application is accepted. Purchased properties can also be considered match.
The committee was then updated on the progress of the former Paulding theatre lot by Tim Copsey, Paulding County Economic Development Director. This project is one of several in the county using ODOD Brownfield program funds. The theatre and adjacent building demolition has completed and all debris removed. The replacement sidewalks along West Perry Street were framed, with cement recently poured. The group will next be made aware of the cost of putting metal siding on the now exposed, east wall of the Hawg’s Tavern building.
The county continues to have ongoing remediation work taking place at the former Grizzley Brake property. The current owners, Arvin Environmental Management, LLC have invested in having natural overgrowth and foliage removed about 40 feet inside the fence perimeter. This has provided a much better view of the chain link fence enclosing the property, and revealed some needed repair. Quotes are taking place on that now. A bid application is also being prepared to drain ponds and level the dirt mounds, at both this site, and the former Stokely site across the road.
Final committee discussions were in regard to following up on properties still owned by the committee and understanding the upcoming mowing maintenance that will soon be required on the properties. Thoughts were then shared in how to proceed in future marketing of remediated properties for development.
