by Office Manager | Feb 23, 2024 | Membership, New Business, PCED Office
The Village of Antwerp has seen an awesome transformation on South Main Street, where small businesses Antwerp Pharmacy and More than Boutique have found their new home for well over a year. If you’ve been by recently, you have also seen the eye-catching signage on the building that houses the Antwerp Pharmacy. This enhancement is due in part to the marketing support program that is available for Paulding County small businesses, offered by the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office.
“Our marketing program is a really great tool for our member businesses to have their current business marketing strategies assessed. From that assessment, they receive a tailored proposal that lists different marketing ideas they can pursue on their own, or with the assistance of different partners, like West Bend Printing and Publishing, Natural Design and Graphics, or any other business they want to work with.” says Kristen Schilt, PCED Office Manager.
Schilt introduced Antwerp Pharmacy owner Mandy Miller to the program during the Paulding County Career Day expo last spring. Choosing to use the program, she was able to acquire a branded tablecloth to use for future displays and job fair events. Miller appreciated the simplicity of working with local businesses, adding, “I could prioritize what I needed the most and then make that idea a reality all while keeping the money we spent local.”
Miller continued to praise the local program for making it easy to develop the signage for their new building, “We decided that the new sign was the most important item that was discussed (in the assessment meeting).” With remaining funds, she partnered with West Bend Printing and Publishing to design a banner-style sign, featuring the pharmacy’s logo, services, location, and contact info. Impressively, West Bend installed it within a day.
The local marketing business is excited for the opportunity to work with, and share their talents, with others, “West Bend Printing & Publishing has found this marketing program to be very helpful, for not only businesses looking to expand their marketing reach with useful tools, but it has also opened doors for the spread of our client-base as well,” stated co-owner Angel Steiner. “After being in business for almost 20 years, Bryce (Steiner, co-owner) and I are sometimes perplexed that so many still don’t know West Bend is more than just the newspaper. Clients are excited when they find out they can get marketing tools, like signage, personalized invoices, etc. made right here in Paulding County! We want to thank PCED and this marketing program for helping expand small businesses in Paulding County.”
The program is a collaborative effort made available through a grant from the OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) office of Defiance and Paulding County, and facilitated through the PCED office. The program is geared toward small businesses with less than 10 employees. It is designed to offset marketing costs as businesses establish and grow their existing business with new marketing opportunities.
“OhioMeansJobs Defiance & Paulding Counties is thankful for the funding opportunity, through the Greater Ohio Workforce Board, to allow OMJ Defiance & Paulding to help assist businesses with this tailored marketing opportunity. OMJ Defiance & Paulding is also appreciative of the continued partnership with PCED and their promotion and support of this wonderful opportunity,” shared Tiffany Rockhold, Workforce Supervisor for OhioMeansJobs Defiance/Paulding Counties.
For more information about the program, or to confirm your business qualifies for assistance, contact PCED Office Manager Kristen Schilt at office@pced.net or call 419-399-8295.
by Office Manager | Feb 14, 2024 | Business Expansion, Membership, New Business, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 14, 2024
New Paulding County Business Back Wall Archery opens
DEFIANCE – A new full-service archery sales and repair service facility has opened for business.
Back Wall Archery, owned by Thomas Cameron, established business located in Paulding County at County Road 171, Defiance, Ohio 43512, in Ohio on September 20, 2023 and opened up the shop on November 27.
Cameron had been working on his own, his family and some friend’s equipment for a couple years. During that time, he continued to develop a greater love for archery and working on the related equipment. The more he worked, the more those he helped encouraged him to go out on his own. “For years I’ve had the love for archery and loved working on my own bow. I wanted to provide the community with great service, along with fast service, for their archery equipment,” Cameron stated.
With the company now certified in the State of Ohio, Cameron is hoping to work with archers in the region that shoot compound or crossbows. In addition to providing archery equipment, arrows and accessories, Back Wall Archery is able to provide fletching repair on arrows along with strings and cables on bows.
The company originally reached out to the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office for guidance of how to begin. The office recommended a meeting with Lisa Becher, NW Ohio representative for Ohio Small Business Development. Using the information provided through those meetings and discussions, the business established and Cameron was able to turn back to the PCED office for additional help.
“Working with Thomas has been great as he dives into his business journey! We tackled his initial hurdles head-on by securing a small business loan and getting him enrolled in our marketing program. These resources, made possible through our collaboration with OhioMeansJobs and the Paulding County Area Foundation, are just some of the ways we’re able to help our local businesses.” shared Kristen Schilt PCED Office Manager.
For questions about the business, inquiries and business hours, contact Cameron at 419-438-6870, backwall.archery@gmail.com or check out Back Wall Archery on Facebook.
by Office Manager | Jan 5, 2024 | Business Expansion, Events, Funding, New Business, Property Development
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release January 5, 2024
JobsOhio Inclusion Grant Info Session for Local Businesses
Paulding County – Local business owners are invited to an informative session on the JobsOhio Inclusion Grant, presented by Jessica Sattler from the Regional Growth Partnership (RGP).
Date: Wednesday January 17, 2024
Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
Location: Paulding Eagles, 206 W Perry St, Paulding
This session will highlight grant opportunities for businesses in the specific communities of Paulding, Broughton, Cecil, and Oakwood. Qualifying businesses may access a $25,000 grant. Additionally, minority, female, disabled, or veteran-owned businesses may qualify for further funding opportunities.
To attend, RSVP to Paulding County Economic Development at office@pced.net or call 419-399-8295.
by Office Manager | Dec 19, 2023 | Business Expansion, Community, Jobs, Membership, New Business
Join us Tuesday and Thursday at 8 AM and 5 PM on 102.7 FM for a new PCBW episode with Angie Freese, representing Antwerp Main Street Business Center, Hormann’s Heating & Cooling, and Geenex Solar. Missed it on air? No problem, catch the episode anytime on your favorite podcast app. Angie talks us through a new affordable office and meeting space at Antwerp Main Street Business Center, which is perfect for small, new, or existing businesses looking for offices or meeting spaces. Plus, hear details about Hormann’s and Geenex Solar. It’s a conversation you won’t want to miss! Thanks to our sponsor; OhioMeansJobs of Paulding County for allowing us to share more about our businesses with the community through this program!
LINK TO LISTEN ONLINE
by Office Manager | Oct 20, 2023 | Business Expansion, Community, New Business, Property Development
GROVER HILL – October 20, 2023 was a historic day in Paulding County, and specifically the Village of Grover Hill, as a groundbreaking event was hosted for the construction of a new Dollar General store. It was noted that events like this are what bring positive change to communities and what people will look back on in 25 or 50 years and identify as a community building day. There are not a lot of these days noted recently in the history of the village, but Grover Hill residents have made the most of those that have. According to Paulding County historian Walter Lang, the last two commercial buildings that were developed in the village limits were the Bud Stratton Dairy Dip in 1962; and Oakwood Deposit Bank in 1978. Nearly 30 people took the time to attend here today.
This project’s realization has been years in the making, and stands as a testament to the power of collaboration. The visionary efforts and forward-thinking of the Paulding County Land Bank Committee members were instrumental in bringing this project to fruition. The Land Bank Committee consists of: Commissioner Mark Holtsberry, Paulding County Treasurer Lou Ann Wannemacher, Commissioner Mike Weible, Mike Kauser representing Paulding County Townships, Paulding Mayor Greg White representing the county villages, and Paulding County Prosecutor Joe Burkard. The land bank purchase and demolition of the existing building on the property at the time, helped kick off this this venture that commenced several years ago. It was in part due to discussions with former county commissioner Roy Klopfenstein and then Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Director Jerry Zielke, who played pivotal roles as members of the project committee.
Rural development relies on local investment and collaborative efforts, as emphasized by current PCED Director Tim Copsey, who stated, “It takes collaboration. We wish to express our gratitude to our partners in this project including: Mayor John Moon and the Village of Grover Hill; Josh Allen with Cross Development, the PC Land Bank; and local property owners Mark and Janette Figert along with Loy and Katherine Taylor. Without all of their dedication to seeing this project to the end this would have not been possible.”
Klopfenstein, now District 82 member of the Ohio House of Representatives, and village Mayor John Moon, both spoke a few words of thanks to the attendees and the efforts of the Paulding County Economic Development office and the collaboration as well.
It was noted that this event ties right in with many other great things taking place in and around the village with the recent opening of the Grover Hill Lions Club Community Center, a functioning Lifewise program, and the upcoming site revitalizations in the old Grover Hill Depot building and blacksmith shop through the Paulding County land bank.
In the photo from left to right: Mark Holtsberry, Tim Copsey, Lou Ann Wannemacher, John Moon, Mark Figert, Loy Taylor, Roy Klopfenstein, Josh Allen.
by Isabella Carwile | Oct 10, 2023 | Community, New Business, Paulding County Business Weekly Radio Broadcast
Hear it here! Our next guest on Paulding County Business Weekly is Matt Moore. Matt and his wife, Mandy, are the owners of The Upper Nine golf simulator. This new business is located in the upstairs of a downtown Antwerp building. Listen in to hear how the business came about and our discussion of what entrepreneurism can look like in a rural community. You’ll also hear about some of the funding and grant opportunities that can be provided through your local economic development office. Thanks to OhioMeansJobs, you can 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. #pauldingcountystrong