by Office Manager | Jun 17, 2022 | Community, Jobs, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release June 8, 2022
PAULDING COUNTY, OH – Paulding County will host its first “Teacher Boot Camp” event this summer. Ten teachers from around the county have signed up to learn more about Paulding County and the exciting businesses and opportunities that exist within the county.
This collaboration project has taken center stage here during fair week in Paulding County. Western Buckeye Educational Service Center (WBESC), Ashland University and the Paulding County Economic Development office have partnered to offer teachers the chance to get out and tour manufacturing, healthcare and agriculture facilities around the county. This will allow the teachers the opportunity to see how business has changed over the years and learn first-hand, what students graduating from the county schools each year, might find behind the business building walls they pass by every day.
“The hope is that these teachers understand that the manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare business world today isn’t like it was in the 1970’s, 80’s or even in 2010. You can go into these facilities now, put in a good hard day of work, and still come out clean. Technology has made a huge difference in business today and we want to be sure we promote that within our county,” explained county Economic Development Director Tim Copsey. “We want to be sure those who spend the majority of time with our county students, from grades K thru 12, see and understand this going forward. We couldn’t be more excited to host this program with these committed teachers.”
Once the teachers complete their week of participation, they will be required to develop a presentation and present in front of the fellow teachers and a member of WBESC and Ashland University for a grade. A passing grade will allow them continuing education units (CEU’s) to meet their education criteria.
The teachers this year will tour facilities at: Paulding County Opportunity Center, new Antwerp Local School Innovation Center, Paragon Tempered Glass, Paulding County Hospital, Wayne Trace Local School Robotics introduction and demonstration, Mansfield Welding, Robert’s Manufacturing, Vantage Career Center, and the new Mercer Landmark facility. In addition, there will be presentations from WBESC Superintendent Tom Taylor, Dr. James Powell with Ashland University, County Commissioner Roy Klopfenstein, OSU Extension FSC Educator Casey Bishop, First Financial Bank, Area Foundation Director Lisa McClure, United Way Director Lora Lyons, Economic Development Director Tim Copsey, Pioneer Lines, Sheriff Jason Landers, Cooper Farms, Ohio Small Business Development Consultant Lisa Beecher, State Bank, Northwest State Community College, Ohio Means Jobs and the Kenn Feld Group.
“We had more businesses volunteer to host and present than we had room to schedule them all. Hopefully this event is interesting enough that these teachers will go back to their respective schools and share their excitement and that leads right into another event next summer,” continued Copsey.
The camp event runs from June 13-16 and presentations on June 23. For questions about the boot camp or information on any of the tours and presentations call 419-399-8282.
by Office Manager | May 4, 2022 | Community, Funding, Membership, New Business, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release April 27, 2022
Collaboration builds and supports Paulding County business growth PAULDING COUNTY, OH – The Paulding County Area Foundation (PCAF) and the Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) office have once again collaborated to promote Paulding County business growth. The PCAF has contributed $20,000 to the PCED office to be used in small business loans. The loans can be used for any variety of expenses that could include: business start-up costs, equipment upgrades, facade improvements, etc. It would be asked that the loans be paid back, at a very low interest rate over an extended period of time, so that the funds would continue to be available for future businesses and investment.
Tim Copsey, PCED Director explained, “The partnership between these two county entities has always been strong. Lisa (McClure) and her board have been one of the biggest supporters of PCED, all the way down to providing us office space. But this collaboration piece goes above and beyond, in true promotion of business growth and expansion in the county. If we could turn this money over two or three times, just imagine how many businesses this could touch and support around the county.”
The conversations began with PCAF Director Lisa McClure and Copsey discussing the surrounding counties and how their foundations were interacting with economic development. Some were heavily involved, some weren’t involved at all. The question became if PCAF and PCED wanted to develop and test a new opportunity and begin something that could offer a small, but quick benefit to the county business community.
“During covid there were businesses that stated they would do some growth or expansion but just needed a little seed money to get started. They weren’t exactly sure how covid was going to affect their bottom line. It would have been great to have this in place to help them jumpstart their ideas,” stated Copsey. “Since covid has tapered off, similar type of requests continue to come into the office. We believe this loan program will really assist in putting these small ideas into real projects that assure businesses of their idea and perhaps further enhance business, employment, include financial institutions, and basically grow the county bottom line” he continued.
McClure presented the opportunity to her PCAF board and they were in full support, “Our board was fully engaged in this grant opportunity. Promoting growth to the residents of Paulding County, in part, is the mission statement of the Paulding County Area Foundation. We look forward to many more partnerships with Paulding County Economic Development as we continue to further enhance the business of Paulding County”.
Loan applications are available through the PCED office. For those that employ less than ten full-time employees, and meet the established eligibility guidelines, there will be loans of up to $2500 considered. The business that qualify will receive their funds and have a ninety day grace period before a repayment schedule is provided for payment over the next 18 months. All repaid loan funds will be returned back into the account for future use.
“We cannot thank Lisa and the Paulding County Area Foundation board enough for believing in us enough to make these funds available and helping develop this opportunity” closed Copsey. The Paulding County Area Foundation contributed funds to the Paulding County Economic Development office to be made available for area businesses. The collaboration will allow businesses that have ten full time employees or less to apply for a low interest improvement loan.
Pictured above (L-R): Area Foundation Director Lisa McClure, Economic Development Director Tim Copsey, and George Carter, member of both boards.
by Office Manager | Apr 22, 2022 | Community, Events, Jobs, Membership, PCED Office
Paulding County Economic Development Press Release April 20, 2022
PCED hosts Career Day Showcase
PAULDING, OH – The Paulding County Economic Development office hosted a Career Day
Showcase event here this week. The event, held at the Paulding County Fairgrounds, was the
first in the county in three years. Businesses, colleges, not-for profit groups, and government
offices displayed and highlighted their businesses to the junior and senior classes from all three
Paulding County schools.
The event ran from 8am-12noon with students arriving at the top of each hour. The Vantage
Career Center students from Antwerp, Paulding and Wayne Trace schools were invited to
attend the first hour. Each school then brought their students on the hour for forty-five
minutes. CHEP-C homeschool students and the public were invited to attend at any time.
“It was great to see the students asking valuable questions about hiring, job duties and getting
a better idea of what our local businesses do. A few even filled out job applications on the
spot! While some left with seasonal or full-time jobs in mind, all left with extra knowledge of
what opportunities we have here in Paulding County.” stated Economic Development Office
Manager Kristen Schilt.
Students were provided a “passport”. The passports suggested a variety of questions to ask
presenting businesses to help create conversation. Each student was invited to talk to a
minimum of five businesses and have the business sign their passport. Completed passports
were entered into a drawing for two $25 gift gas cards per school. The cards were sponsored
by National Oil & Gas, Inc. They provide fuel to Marathon gas stations all over the county.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey noted, “The event far exceeded
what we hoped to create and achieve today. The excitement of the businesses and colleges to
get in front of the students again was a great positive, but to see the interaction of the students
in front of the presenters today, for the first time in years, was worth all of the time and effort
put into this event.” Copsey continued, “The county Business Advisory Council meetings have
provided interaction between the PCED office, county businesses, and school officials and
certainly helped facilitate this event coming back. With our office going in and meeting with
students a couple times this year, to help prepare them for this event, it seemed to make the
students more comfortable with us. The bridges that were built today between students and
business leaders was truly impressive to watch.”
This was the first event that the fairly new economic development office staff was able to host
since taking their PCED positions. They noted their thankful appreciation for the help of Vicky
Steele who has helped prepare this event for the PCED office in the past.
by Tim Copsey | Mar 29, 2022 | Community, Events, PCED Office
Career Day to be held April 19 8:00 am-Noon
PAULDING, OH – The Paulding County Economic Development office is hosting the Annual Career Day on Tuesday, April 19 from 8:00 am-Noon at the Paulding County OSU Extension Building, at 503 Fairground Dr. Paulding, OH 45879. The public is welcome to attend. High School Students from Antwerp, Paulding, and Wayne Trace will be bussed in to meet and learn more about the businesses, colleges, and non-profits in attendance. This is the first in-person career day held since 2019.
Paulding County Economic Development Director, Tim Copsey noted, “With the openings for employment in finance, civic office, healthcare, retail, and manufacturing, we are extremely excited to host this event and to introduce our students to our local employers.”
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 Tim Copsey | Dec 21, 2021 | PCED Office
As is typical, December just started and here we are 8 days from Christmas! Time flies when you enjoy life in Paulding County. The hope was that as we coasted into the holidays we would slow down in the PCED office and catch our breath for a minute to organize. Not the case. PC business women and men are a lot Frosted Flakes…..THEY’RRRRRRRRE GREAT!! Onward toward the end of 2021!
The PCED Board concluded the 2021 year with their final meeting this week. There were so many exciting items on the agenda we didn’t get through it all and already have a full agenda for January. Exciting times in Paulding County! We want to thank Dennis Recker as he expires his term for his many years of service to this board. We also welcome new member Brett Wagner of PCED Member Wagner Metals being accepted by the board and joining us in 2022!!
This week we had our monthly discussion about PCED with the commissioners; had a great meeting with NAI Harmon Group and property owners in the Antwerp area. The hope is to garner some options to move the 24/49 intersection area forward. Had a wonderful tour of the NW State campus; Kristen and I had a great educational discussion with Sarah Noggle who is both PCED Business Member and a PCED Board member; and enjoyed lunches with our Regional Growth Partnership (RGP) representative Andy Lorenz and then our Putnam and Defiance County counterparts Amy Sealts and Erika Willitzer.
As noted earlier, the Antwerp CIC continues to move forward with plans to develop the 24/49 intersection. It will begin with an access road to get into the property. Would you be interested in naming this new road? Contact antwerpchamber@gmail.com to find out how your donation to the Antwerp CIC could qualify you to be in a pool of investors that will have the opportunity to name this road.
