by Office Manager | Feb 28, 2023 | Business Expansion, New Business, PCED Office
The Small Business Innovation Center (SBIC) located between the Paulding Area Foundation building and the Board of Elections has multiple office spaces available for rent.
Managed by the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office, the SBIC was established in 2015 to offer an economical business office setting to young, growing businesses or established businesses located outside of the immediate area. With a prime location “on the square,” these businesses have the opportunity to gauge community support and maximize their visibility to determine if opening their own storefront would be viable or beneficial. Ideally, these businesses would flourish and eventually require their own permanent spaces from vacant storefronts in Paulding County or those in need of refurbishment.
AgCredit, a member-owned farm credit lending firm from northwest Ohio,
was the first business to take advantage of the SBIC opportunity and turn it into a success. After establishing a temporary office in the SBIC, AgCredit made their move in the fall of 2020 into a revamped retail space at 839 N. Williams St and added more members to their team.
Other businesses have taken up residence in the SBIC temporarily while their future locations were either under construction or yet to be established. Paulding’s probate court temporarily occupied one of the SBIC’s office suites before moving to its permanent location on McDonald Pike. In 2020, The Union Bank expanded into Paulding by utilizing the SBIC reception area and office suite while their future location on Main St in Paulding was under renovation. The Red Angel Pizza finished out their careers with their home office in the SBIC.
PCED Director Tim Copsey noted, “The SBIC has been instrumental in establishing office space for many new and existing businesses in Paulding County. We look forward to what the future brings for the next businesses in occupying the open space.”
What the SBIC offers
The SBIC consists of two levels of rentable office spaces. The main entrance opens to the reception area with approximately 240 sq ft and plenty of workspace with two seating areas.
Between the reception area and community office area are four, 10′ x 12′ office suites. The community area is equipped with a workspace, file storage, restrooms and a full kitchenette including a microwave, sink and refrigerator. Three of the suites are currently occupied by PC Waste Management, Maid to Achieve, and United Edge Real Estate and Auction.
At the far end of the lower level is a community boardroom that seats up to 12 people.
All of the spaces are powered and equipped with wifi.
Upstairs, there is a total of five rentable office spaces, four of which are currently occupied. There are two conference rooms available to rent by the hour. Northwest State Community College has held conferences in this space and Paulding Entrepreneurial Network (PEN) holds meetings there twice a month.
Businesses that currently occupy the upper-level offices are Habitat for Humanity, Family First Bail Bondsman, Papin Photography and Northwest Ohio Wind.
Available spaces for rent
There is currently one upstairs office space available for rent, as well as the reception area and one office suite on the lower level now that Union Bank has moved into its new location next to Grounded Coffee & Crumbs on Main St.
For more information about the SBIC, or for a tour of these spaces, contact Office Manager Kristen Schilt at 419-399-8295, or office@pced.net.
by Office Manager | Feb 28, 2023 | Community, Events, Funding, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 26, 2023
MVPO facilitates Antwerp community SWOT meeting
ANTWERP – The Antwerp community recently participated in a Strengths,Weaknesses ,Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis with public input from village officials and community organization partners and residents. 32 guests participated in the public event, held at the Antwerp VFW community room. The collaborative event was hosted by the Paulding County Economic Development office and Antwerp Planning and Zoning Commission, and facilitated by Estee Miller with Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO).
Miller noted, “Conducting SWOT analyses allow us to gain an understanding of the needs of a community and how we (MVPO) can leverage strengths and opportunities to meet those needs.”
The Antwerp community is blessed with many organizations and groups that provide: government oversite, community fundraising and input, not-for-profit facilitation, and philanthropic input throughout the year. Several of the noted groups that participated included: Antwerp Village Council, Carryall Township, Antwerp Chamber of Commerce, Antwerp Community Development Corporation (ACDC), Antwerp Rotary, Antwerp Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) and the Antwerp Planning and Zoning Commission.
Economic Development Director Tim Copsey set the stage, opening the meeting by explaining how the meeting came about: “While attending meetings with all of the Antwerp organizations, it was clear that each group has a goal or mission in mind to better the community. There just didn’t seem to be a clear interweaving of information or definition that each group was aware, or understood the goals of the other groups. This sharing of communication allows for all groups and community residents to collectively participate, and share, what each believes would be the pertinent pieces for a SWOT analysis”.
MVPO will take the data that was shared and gathered, and will develop a community survey. The survey data will guide MVPO, and the village, when future grants become available. Having data already collected saves time when grant application timelines are short.
This event follows similar events held around Paulding County. MVPO facilitated a similar event recently in the Village of Oakwood and the Village of Latty hosted their own independent analysis.
The Antwerp Planning and Zoning Commission also held a brief business meeting during the event and shared several zoning maps in hope of receiving feedback for future thoughts in regard to the traffic thoroughfare in the community.
Learn more about the Village of Antwerp www.villageofantwerp.com and for more information about Maumee Valley Planning Organization and their grant writing for Paulding, Defiance, Fulton, Henry, or Williams County contact them at 419-784-3882
by Office Manager | Feb 14, 2023 | Community, Funding, PCED Office, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 13, 2022
OhioMeansJobs presents to Paulding County Commissioners
PAULDING – OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) representatives visited Paulding County to share information and answer questions here.
During some recent business retention and expansion (BR&E) visits in the county, HR Managers at manufacturing business sites shared some concerns and frustrations for their employees. This was in regard to the current unemployment system and payments. The concerns were noted by county Commissioner Mike Weible. This meeting came at the request of Commissioner Mike Weible to county economic development Director Tim Copsey to see if there might be some local OMJ support members to see how they might help.
The meeting was attended by Rocky Rockhold, Greater Ohio Workforce Board; Jamie Stemen, Program Delivery Supervisor, Office of Workforce Development, Ohio Department of Jobs & Family Services (OJFS); Michael Burkholder, Workforce Specialist, Office of Workforce Development OJFS; Nathan Strange, Program Delivery Manager, Office of Workforce Development, OJFS; local contact Tiffany Goings, OhioMeansJobs Defiance/Paulding Counties, Workforce Supervisor; PC commissioners Mark Holtsberry, Lisa McClure, Weible, Copsey and Kristen Schilt with the PC Economic Development office.
Copsey introduced Burkholder who in turn introduced the team and shared how the offices work closely with the county through the communication and collaboration of Goings and Copsey at the local level, and how other branches and higher levels are pulled in as necessary. This led to the sharing of questions and concerns from commissioners.
Rockhold stepped in and started from the top and shared how the “chain of command” works with the OhioMeansJobs hierarchy, including all that is involved from the federal level, all the way down through the state to the local level. In sharing the information, it was emphasized that despite their many roles and divisions, the team really was there to help and get questions answered or requests guided in the right direction. It was then realized that the unemployment questions and issues are not even covered in these branches of OhioMeansJobs, but actually from the Ohio unemployment side. This is an entirely different division of offices in Ohio. However, the representatives present could get the commissioners in touch with a contact from the unemployment division of the office at any time.
Once the unemployment information was understood, the conversation of all the additional pieces of help and collaboration that could take place with these representatives, was promoted. The current programs funded by the group, and new opportunities that could be beneficial were all noted for future projects and discussion.
Copsey pointed out that Goings is an outstanding county resource and that on many visits to area businesses she is invited and attends. This helps employers with workforce questions get answers both quickly and accurately and that the collaboration between offices remains strong.
All parties involved noted this was a very good meeting for learning and understanding and that a follow up meeting should be scheduled.
by Office Manager | Feb 8, 2023 | Community, Events, Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release February 7, 2022
Career Day to be held April 4th 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
PAULDING, OH – The Paulding County Economic Development office is hosting the Annual Career Day on Tuesday, April 4th, from 8:00 am- 12:00 pm. The event is located at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building located at 503 Fairground Dr. Paulding, OH 45879. Public is welcome to attend. High School Students from Antwerp, Paulding, Wayne Trace and Vantage Career Center, will be bussed in to meet and learn more about the businesses, colleges and non-profits in attendance.
“Last year we had a great turnout with over 40 businesses attend, we are hoping for another great event and encourage business looking for help to contact us for more information about attending this year’s event.” noted Paulding County Economic Development Office Manager, Kristen Schilt.
You can find out more about Paulding County Economic Development events and programs online at www.pced.net; on Facebook at Paulding County Economic Development; or email Kristen Schilt, Office Manager at office@pced.net.
by Office Manager | Feb 1, 2023 | Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
PAULDING COUNTY – The Paulding County Economic Development office and OhioMeansJobs Paulding County has announced a workshop for businesses to learn more about Ohio TechCred, job posting tools, work opportunity tax credits and more. This workshop will take place Wednesday, March 8 2023 from 8:30 -10:30 am at the Paulding Eagles located at 206 W Perry St.
“This workshop will be a great opportunity for employers to hear from and ask questions directly to the experts of these state and local programs. Our economic development office continue to share the program with local business of all sizes but this will help the business leaders understand how these programs can be used and actually benefit them.” stated Tim Copsey, Economic Development Director for Paulding County.
Please RSVP to Kristen Schilt, Office Manager by Wednesday March 1 at 419-399-8295 or email office@pced.net.
by Office Manager | Jan 12, 2023 | Jobs, PCED Office, Workforce
We are excited to announce a new opportunity to address the critical labor shortage and promote a sustainable talent pipeline for your business. Our school districts and career center are committed to providing the talent we need to support economic and business development in Paulding County.
To support student awareness of employment opportunities in our community, they have employers register with
YouScience.
YouScience offers an innovative, aptitude-based career guidance system that helps aligns students to career paths. Registration is free and takes only 5 minutes to complete:
Through this partnership, students will have access to the Employer Connections platform for the next TEN years. Students will be more engaged in career exploration if they see a variety of employers from our LOCAL community. Please take a few moments to add your company to the employer directory for our local students! If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the PCED Office at
office@pced.net or
Cayla O’leary at YouScience.
Cayla.oleary@youscience.com#PauldingCountyStrong
