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 | Dec 18, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, Funding, Membership, PCED Office, Shoutout, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release December 18, 2025
PAULDING — The Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Board of Directors recently convened its December meeting.
Guest speaker Roni Bakle of Keller Logistics introduced and explained the K.A.V.I.C. program (Keller Assists Veterans in Crisis), now serving Paulding, Williams, and Henry counties, providing financial support for veterans in need. The hope is to make more people aware of the program in the future.
Treasurer Jeff Mumma reported strong account balances, year-over-year. Membership contributions for 2025 remained steady, and 2026 membership inquiries are in the mail. The board approved the financial report for audit.
Director Tim Copsey provided information on multiple projects around the county, including the recent authentication notice from the JobsOhio team, in regard to the 43-acre Paulding Industrial Park site. There was also an update on the Small Business Innovation Center (SBIC), noting full occupancy on the first floor level and current open office spaces upstairs.
It was shared that Lisa Becher, consultant with the NW Ohio Small Business Development Center, requested county support for entrepreneurial funding. With a positive investment from each of the five counties she serves, there could be a matching grant available. The board approved a donation to the Northwest State Community College Foundation to assist with Paulding County business startups.
A full discussion took place in regard to open board positions. President Jim States, Secretary Sarah Noggle, and board member Brett Wagner have all reached their term limits. The board acknowledged their investment of time, effort, and excellent service to the board and the county and wished them the best going forward.
In other business:
- The Banquet Committee shared that 187 member guests attended the November banquet.
- The Personnel Committee will begin the process of filling open board seats immediately.
- The Governance Committee will begin reviewing the strategic plan for 2026 updates
- Set the 2026 meeting and banquet dates
by Isabella Carwile | Nov 13, 2025 | Business Expansion, Community, Events, Funding, PCED Office, Property Development, Survey, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release November 13, 2025
PAULDING – Representatives from the villages of Cecil, Grover Hill, Latty, Oakwood, Paulding and Payne gathered for the fourth quarter Paulding County Mayors Association and Zoning Inspectors met this week at the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office.
The meeting kicked off with guest speaker Maria Martinez from the Ohio Latino Affairs Commission. Maria shared her role in advocating for Latino communities across the state and highlighted the services available to support diverse populations.
Oakwood Mayor Josh Duslak followed with an overview of Ohio House Bill 331, offering insight into how the proposed legislation could impact smaller villages like ours.
Estee Blair, representing Maumee Valley Planning Organization, gave an in-depth update on the WHO (Welcome Home Ohio) grant and what it means for local homeowners. She walked attendees through the eligibility requirements, the types of repairs the grant can cover, and how to begin the application process. Her presentation sparked a lot of interest, with several attendees asking thoughtful questions about timelines, income guidelines, and how the program might support aging homes in our area. It was clear that many saw this as a valuable opportunity to make much-needed improvements while easing the financial burden
Sarah McCabe, Paulding County Auditor, joined the meeting to provide clarity on local zoning maps and address questions related to zoning regulations. She explained how zoning impacts property use and development, and helped attendees understand how to access and interpret the maps for their own parcels. Sarah also broke down the differences between taxes assessed on mobile homes versus traditional housing, noting how factors like location, ownership, and property classification can affect tax rates.
An open discussion followed, focusing on the various projects currently underway throughout Paulding County. Attendees shared updates on ongoing initiatives from infrastructure improvements and community development efforts to local business growth and grant-supported programs. The conversation also looked ahead to 2026, with participants exchanging ideas and outlining goals for the coming year. Topics included potential funding opportunities, ways to strengthen village services, and strategies to keep residents informed and engaged as plans take shape.
The Paulding County Mayors Association / Zoning Inspectors meeting will meet again in February. Presenters for the upcoming agenda will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
