by Office Manager | Feb 23, 2023 | Community, Funding, New Business, Property Development
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 22, 2023
Evaluation continues on Paulding County brownfield sites
PAULDING – The Paulding County Land Reutilization Committee (Land Bank) recently met for their February meeting. In addition to committee members, guests included the Ohio Brownfield Remediation Program EPA consultant Matt Wagner, with Tetra Tech, and Estee Miller, with Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO).
Miller started the meeting updating the committee on many of the Ohio Blight program properties and introducing several agenda items that required decision and further discussion. In addition, some of the projects needed some legal counsel with county prosecutor Joe Burkard.
The group was then updated by Wagner on the Brownfield clean-up projects in the county. The project updates included: the Paulding Theatre and adjoining Noneman building, the 30-acre former Grizzley Asbestos Brake manufacturing facility, the 30-acre former Stokely Manufacturing facility, the Antwerp Park Station Bar building demolition; the Antwerp Sunoco gas station on West River Street, and the Grover Hill Depot building. Many of these properties are awaiting final approvals from Ohio EPA testing, although the Grizzley property has been approved. The EPA testing determined the required soil cap over all buried contaminants is solid and in place. The group now awaits Army Corp of engineer approval to level ponds on the site.
New business included updates from both Tetra Tech and MVPO in regard to communication from Columbus about the potential of remaining brownfield funds being made available per county, and if a new round of funding will be issued with the next state budget.
Conversation then noted a recent downtown Paulding apartment fire. The discussion then carried over into several potential properties around the county to review for remediation in the future.
For more information about Paulding County Land Reutilization committee or donating available properties, please reach out to the Paulding County Treasurer office 419-399-8281.
by Office Manager | Jan 27, 2023 | Community, Funding, New Business, Property Development
Pictured is the old Paulding Theatre and former Western Auto building located on West Perry Street in Paulding. Advanced Demolition Service from McComb, Ohio has been awarded the bid for demolition this year. The buildings are currently owned by the Paulding County Land Reutilization Committee. The Western Auto building was donated to the committee by Bob & Gretchen Noneman.
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release January 11, 2023
Paulding County Land Bank meets
PAULDING – The Paulding County Land Reutilization Committee (aka Land Bank) met here recently to discuss the State of Ohio Brownfield remediation program and updates. Topping the discussion was the awarding of the demolition bid for the old Paulding Theatre building and neighboring old Western Auto building. The Western Auto building was donated to this demolition project by local residents Bob & Gretchen Noneman.
Matt Wagner, with the county EPA engineering firm Tetra Tech, was on hand for the meeting and stated, “We received a lot of local interest in the Theater project and it was a very competitive process.” The contract award was made to Advanced Demolition Services of McComb, Ohio. They won the award with a total bid of $144,226.00 for demolition, safe removal of all identified hazardous materials and asbestos products, remaining building materials and debris. The Tetra Tech engineer estimate was $182,710. There is still some final detail conversations taking place with the John Paulding Historical Museum Board of Directors on how to safely remove the old movie projectors, and also working with neighboring building owners during scheduled demolition. Following final detail discussions demolition will take place yet this year.
Wagner also shared that the EPA studies have completed on the old Grizzley factory site. The studies were to verify that all previous work completed during the destruction of the former asbestos brake pad facility, was carried out according to EPA health and safety procedures. The studies confirmed the site is in compliance and the property is now allowed to change ownership if needed.
Discussions also continued in regard to the former Stokely facility property; the old Antwerp Marlin Sunoco property rehabilitation; and remediation of the old Grover Hill Depot building on the north side of the Fire Station. Following the meeting, Estee Miller with Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) and Wagner were heading to Antwerp to open up the Park Station Bar building. The purpose was to allow contractors a pre-bid visit and tour of the building and facility before bids are due for the demolition.
Conversation then turned more local as the committee received many updates from Miller about the State of Ohio Residential Blight program. Paulding County submitted the most building removal bids in the six-county area with 27 buildings being removed and properties being remediated. All of the property demolition bids have been awarded and many of the buildings are already removed. Final payments will not be paid to contractors until spring when final ground leveling and grass seeding is complete.
Paulding County Economic Director Tim Copsey shared in follow up of the meeting, “The PCED office worked hard and made a concerted effort into these two state programs. It took a lot of our time and resources but we didn’t want to look back and wonder, what could have been, if we didn’t try and use up all of these funds provided. Some of these buildings and properties were absolutely a working part of our Paulding County history and meant a lot to many of the people in the county. However, the buildings and land have seen their best days go by. It was time to clean up and provide the opportunity to for a fresh start.”
It was shared by Miller that there could be a possibility of this program coming around again. MVPO has established a place on their website to enter addresses for future review if the residential or commercial blight program does come around again.
In general business of the group, Commissioner Mike Weible was added to the committee to replace former Commissioner Roy Klopfenstein. Klopfenstein recently resigned his position as commissioner to step into his newly elected position of State Representative for the 82nd District.
The committee will meet again on Wednesday, February 22 at the Commissioner’s office.
by Office Manager | Oct 4, 2022 | Community, Events, New Business, PCED Office
PAULDING COUNTY – The Paulding County Economic Development Board of Directors has announced the date for their upcoming Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet. The banquet will take place on Tuesday, November 1 at Grant’s Catering in Antwerp.
This will be the 22nd annual event hosted by the PCED office, “This networking event is a highlight for our office and Board of Directors. The opportunity to interact with all of our local, state and regional business partners, and recap the successes in Paulding County this year, makes this an enjoyable event. We hope everyone takes advantage and joins us for the evening.” stated Tim Copsey, Economic Development Director for the county.
The networking and social hour is from 5:30-6:30 p.m. with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. The evening will include special business acknowledgments, dinner, music, and recognition of new businesses in the county.
PCED investment members get two complimentary reservations and any additional tickets are $30. Please RSVP to Kristen Schilt, Office Manager by October 11th at 419-399-8295 or email office@pced.net.
by Office Manager | Aug 30, 2022 | Community, Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), New Business, PCED Office, Property Development
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release August 29, 2022
Antwerp/Payne/Paulding County CIC chooses logo; establishes property committee
ANTWERP, OH – The Antwerp/Payne/Paulding County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) board reviewed several new logo samples this month, as the discussion of a positive branding and marketing image continues. Alex Hindenlang, an Antwerp alum, created the logos at the request of the board. Upon review and discussion, a logo was chosen and voted on with some minor adjustments requested. The logo was made with a universal feature that will also allow the other CIC groups in the county the freedom to use their current entity name in the same logo, so that residents around the county will become familiar with, and recognize the logo immediately.
The CIC board continues to watch for development opportunities around the county. The discussion this month was in regard to how the CIC might get involved with purchasing residential properties that are the right fit for getting them into the hands of future home owners, not renters. In order to have a grasp on any upcoming properties, a Property Assessment Committee (PAC) sub-committee was established by the board to oversee and find opportunities.
Board members Tyson Mowery, Denise Coleman and Antwerp Mayor Jan Reeb will head this committee with input from the other board members and any interested residents of Paulding County communities. Research will begin to get a list of properties developed for immediate review.
In other business the board:
- heard updates on current owned and option properties and their status for remediation or development. Discussion also carried into potential purchasing property with current options in place
- received an update from board treasurer Anita Bok and President Tom VanVlerah about the success of the recent state audit. Minor findings for record retention and storage were already addressed and resolved with the help of Antwerp Village Administrator Brian Davis and Mayor Jan Reeb.
- discussed gathering potential board member names to have a pipeline of contacts in place for future open positions.
The board will next meet on September 22 at 6pm at the Antwerp Depot. For immediate information or property discussions please reach out and contact the Paulding County Economic Development office at 419-399-8295.
by Office Manager | Aug 17, 2022 | Community, Events, New Business, PCED Office
We appreciate and thank you for being a member of the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Investment Team!
The PCED board of directors and staff invite you to attend our upcoming Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, at Grant’s Catering in Antwerp. Social Hour will be from 5:30-6:30 pm and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.
As a membership benefit, you have access to two complimentary banquet reservations. Please RSVP here by October 11th: https://forms.gle/foB7HZ49C1jW343G9 . Additional tickets can be purchased for $30. Payment can be taken ahead of time or the night of the banquet.
Feel free to call the office at 419-399-8295 with any questions or to RSVP.
by Office Manager | Aug 10, 2022 | Membership, New Business, PCED Office
PAULDING – The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Board met this week with all board members present. John Kobee, President of PCED Diamond Investment Member Antwerp Exchange Bank, and former PCED Board Chair, was invited to update the board about the bank. Kobee spoke on current events with the bank branches in Antwerp, Payne and Harlan, IN, and shared some incite on current banking conditions. Kobee also shared what it means for the bank to be an active community participant and investment member with the PCED office. The group agreed in whole that this collaboration is beneficial to both parties and all the residents and communities they serve.
PCED Director Tim Copsey then updated the board on office business. Copsey announced the Small Business Innovation Center, which is a small business incubator office space managed by the PCED office, is at capacity. The eight finished offices are all currently being rented. Discussion with the board followed as there is still room for two additional spaces to be developed. The board approved estimates be obtained to develop these last two spaces. A determination from the board of how to move forward will take place upon receipt of the estimates.
It was shared that private membership investment into the PCED office is up 13.5% over the 2021 record year. At this point in 2022 there have been 31 new investment members added to the roster. Copsey asked the board to continue providing investor leads for the office to follow up on and add as potential opportunities to add even more members in the future.
Discussion took place in regard to the strategic plan for Paulding County. A draft of decided goals was recently presented from the board. Copsey presented some possible tracking for reaching those goals to the group. Pertinent discussion followed and a decided forward path was developed. This path will tie into future director presentations to the board and will be monitored for depth of value in the future.
Copsey shared that it has recently been agreed by all three county community improvement groups in the county (Antwerp/Payne/Paulding County, Paulding Village & Oakwood Village) to collectively meet and share some thoughts and ideas. This has been discussed in the past but this was the first time it was suggested by the groups themselves. A near future date will be set for the discussion.
The regular business agenda followed including:
Board consent for Copsey to attend the upcoming annual Ohio Economic Development Summit in Dublin, OH October 4-6.
Banquet update for the annual event to be held at Grant’s Catering in Antwerp November 1, 2022
Financial Committee update to discuss current budget and projections.
Executive session to discuss future salary and benefit packages for new and existing office employees.
The board will meet again in a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2022
