by Isabella Carwile | Feb 25, 2026 | Business Advisory Council, Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Shoutout, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 25, 2026
PAULDING – The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office will host its annual Paulding County Career Day on Tuesday, April 9. The event will take place at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building, located at 503 Fairground Drive from 8a-12p. The event is open to the public from 8a-9a.
High school students from Antwerp, Paulding, Wayne Trace, Continental, and Vantage Career Center will be attending this event to explore career pathways and engage with participating businesses, colleges, and nonprofit organizations.
“Last year, we welcomed more than 51 businesses and colleges, and we are anticipating another strong turnout this year. We encourage employers and institutions seeking talent to contact us for details on participating,” said Jessica Stechschulte, Director’s Assistant at Paulding County Economic Development.
The event is for mor than just hiring a future workforce. The event to to show students what products are made her in the county and the region. It gives employers an opportunity to share their business name, their logo, and engage with students to help them feel comfortable if the need to find employment down the road.
This year, through Business Advisory Council discussions, the schools and businesses have decided to have the students prepare resumes and “dress to impress” to make it a more meaningful event for everyone involved.
To sign up to display, or for additional information, please contact Jessica Stechschulte at of****@**ed.net.
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 | Feb 11, 2026 | Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
HICKSVILLE – The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office recently coordinated an exploratory learning tour at Sabre Industries in Hicksville, Ohio. The tour included more than 40 students from Antwerp Local, Paulding Exempted Village, Wayne Trace Local Schools, and the Paulding County Opportunity Center. Students who indicated an interest in a welding future were treated to an up-close look at large-scale welding operations tied to Sabre’s steel pole fabrication and production.
Through collaboration with Defiance County Economic Development Director Erika Willitzer, the PCED office learned that Sabre is actively seeking a large number of welding and production employees to support its expanding production needs. In response, PCED worked with Sabre Industries administration team to organize a tour for students who expressed interest in welding careers, giving them the chance to see the profession in action and better understand the skills required.
The Sabre admin team shared valuable information with students about the overall company, but specifically the Hicksville facility. Discussion included safety, quality, production aspects, and employee benefits.
“This experience was valuable on multiple levels,” explained PCED Director Tim Copsey. “Some students realized welding wasn’t the right fit for them, while others left more excited and hope to pursue the trade. Both outcomes are wins—career exploration is about clarity, not pressure.”
The tour served as a pilot for what PCED hopes are more future workforce-focused field experiences. PCED will be gathering student feedback on what worked well, what could be improved, and what additional elements would make future tours even more impactful.
Copsey is encouraging local employers to consider hosting similar student tours, “If your business needs to build a future workforce, now is the time to open your doors. If you don’t have a pipeline of employees ready to step in, or if you have team members nearing retirement, it is time to introduce students to your industry to help secure your workforce for tomorrow.”
The next collaborative workforce event will be the Paulding County Career Day. It is scheduled for April 9 from 8:00a to 12:00p at the county fairground campus. This event brings together all junior and senior students countywide. Businesses throughout the region that are interested in participating or arranging a facility tour are encouraged to contact the PCED office to reserve a spot.
by Isabella Carwile | Feb 11, 2026 | Business Advisory Council, Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
PAULDING – The Paulding County Business Advisory Council (BAC) is pleased to announce a new partnership with the Paulding Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 2405. The Paulding Eagles will host future lunch‑and‑learn meetings. The collaboration reflects the county’s ongoing commitment to uniting business, industry, and education in support of local workforce development.
The February meeting featured updates on several upcoming student‑business interaction events across the region. This week, more than 40 Paulding County students toured the Sabre Industries facility in Hicksville, Ohio to learn about their business, welding, and manufacturing career pathways. The event was a joint communication effort between Paulding County Economic Development and Defiance County Economic Development.
Antwerp High School Principal Jessie Arnold shared details about the school’s new Junior High Career Connections event taking place next week. Fourteen area businesses, representing a range of industry clusters, will meet with students to discuss career opportunities, mentoring possibilities, and how early exposure can help guide future high school course planning.
Paulding High School Panther for Careers Coordinator Shawn Brewer provided an update on the after-school welding class led by instructor Staci Miller. The program collaborates with Northwest State Community College (NSCC) and the economic development office to coordinate credentials. The class will take a tour at Mansfield Welding soon, and bring additional industry presenters to the classroom to broaden student to business exposure.
Wayne Trace High School Curriculum Director Tim Manz noted that the STEAM program continues to evolve and looks for additional business partnerships to connect students with real-world problem-solving scenarios.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey announced updates in regard to the county’s summer educator program. Formerly known as Teacher Boot Camp, the initiative will now be called the Career Connection Educator Day Camp. Educators will have the option to register for a single day focused on math, science, social studies, arts/specials, or ELA career connections, or attend the full week to earn CEU credit.
Representatives from NSCC and Rhodes State explained upcoming adult and school-aged student learning events that are coming up at their respective schools.
Looking ahead, the BAC discussed several major events planned for 2026, including:
- County Career Day on April 9 at the Paulding County Fairgrounds
- Business displays at the Paulding County Fair in June
- Build Your Future skills development event that will be held in partnership with Vantage Career Center at the Van Wert County Fairgrounds in September
These initiatives reflect the BAC’s continued commitment to strengthening the county’s talent pipeline and creating meaningful connections between students, educators, and employers.
For more information about the Paulding County BAC or to get involved, please contact the Paulding County Economic Development office.
by Isabella Carwile | Sep 12, 2025 | Business Advisory Council, Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Shoutout, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release September 12, 2025
PAULDING — The Paulding County Business Advisory Council (BAC) recently convened to advance a series of initiatives aimed at building business-education partnerships and expanding opportunities for students throughout the county.
One of the key developments was the Council’s decision to support a Junior High business type exposure event hosted at Antwerp Local School. The event will be designed to introduce younger students to local businesses and business concepts, and introduce career pathways. Paulding Exempted Village School and Wayne Trace Local School will look at what they currently do with junior high-age students and determine if this is a potential fit for them in the future as well.
The BAC also agreed to move forward with planning of the High School Business & Career Showcase this spring. This year’s showcase will emphasize soft skills and hiring readiness, with students suggested to arrive “dressed to impress” and prepared with resumes. The event will continue to utilize YouScience data to guide student engagement, helping align individual aptitudes with real-world career opportunities.
Noting additional opportunities for skilled trades training, Economic Development Director Tim Copsey shared ongoing discussions with a regional group offering floor installation training. In collaboration with Paulding High School, the program may be hosted at the Opportunity Center building, allowing students from all county schools to participate.
Students from Antwerp, Paulding, and Wayne Trace High Schools will also attend the Build Your Future event in Van Wert on September 16. This marks the first time Antwerp and Paulding students will participate, following last year’s weather-related cancellation. The event offers hands-on career exploration in construction, manufacturing, healthcare, and related industries.
Additional highlights from the meeting included:
- Wayne Trace High School launched new opportunities in engineering (22 students enrolled) and videography (26 students), expanding hands-on learning in high-demand fields.
- Paulding High School has brought back its after-school welding program in partnership with FFA instructor Staci Miller and Northwest State Community College. In addition, they reported 20 students enrolled in the Panthers for Career program and a new opportunity for students to earn drone flying credentials.
- Antwerp High School has four seniors participating in the Archer Career Day Advantage program and continues to emphasize robotics programming for younger students. Mrs. Litzenberg’s 6th-grade class will be participating in a business exploration program in the 4th quarter this year.
Vantage Career Center Superintendent Rick Turner shared the excitement of a partnership that includes Vantage Career Center, Latty Village, Paulding Area Foundation, and Paulding County Economic Development. The collaboration will allow career center students to build a new home in Latty—the first career center constructed home in Paulding County in many years. This hands-on project provides real-world experience and will make a community impact.
Turner also let the group know that in order to better support student education decision-making, Vantage Career Center has moved its Sophomore Student Visit Day to November, giving students and families more time to ask questions and explore options before spring enrollment.
Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Superintendent Missy McClurg presented information about upcoming STEM and YouScience training opportunities for both students and educators in the county. These sessions are designed to enhance business-education collaboration and equip participants with tools and knowledge to better align experiences with workforce needs.
McClurg led a thoughtful discussion on the future of the Teacher Boot Camp, a program that takes educators into local business and industry facilities. Although funding for the initiative was not included in the recent Ohio budget, the BAC is exploring local scholarships and alternative funding sources to ensure its continuation.
As the school year progresses, the BAC will continue to evaluate new programming and partnerships to support student success and workforce development for all local business employment needs.
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.
