Paulding County Economic Development Press Release November 10, 2021
Paulding County Annual Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet
ANTWERP, OH – The Paulding County Economic Development Board of Directors recently hosted their
Business & Industry Appreciation Banquet. The event is hosted annually to recognize business and
commercial growth and prosperity within the county.
Following a networking and socializing hour, the event was opened with a welcome by PCED Board
President Larry Manz. Manz shared updated financial statistics about the office. He was followed by
Dennis Recker who led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. Recker was then presented a small token
for his years of service to the board. Recker is completing his second term on the board that will
complete at the end of the year. Recker then introduced Economic Development Director Tim Copsey.
Copsey also welcomed guests before acknowledging the nineteen Diamond, Platinum and Gold Level
investment member businesses, who helped sponsor the banquet event. It was noted that this was the
21st annual event, although there was not a banquet held in 2020, due to covid pandemic restrictions.
Dinner was served by Grant’s Catering, who was also the event site host. During the dinner the Vivace
String duo of Carman Martin and Elsie Manz, played the violin and cello respectively, for the over 150
banquet attendees.
Following dinner several businesses made presentations. The first ever Diamond Level investment
business member, Union Bank, addressed the crowd to share their business plans to the group and also
updated the county on the status of their exciting building rehabilitation, taking place in downtown
Paulding. This will be their northmost of 17 bank branches in Ohio. Also presenting were newly
developed businesses that have invested in the economic development office: Brown Made Media,
EAW Keepsake Beads and MySportsLive.org. The new business Grounded Coffee and Crumbs provided
each attendee a cookie to try to promote their business.
Copsey shared the five businesses that have invested into the PCED office for 20 consecutive
years. This year those businesses were: Baker-Shindler, Schweller Electric, Foltz Insurance,
State Bank and Ohio Gas. Copsey and new PCED Office Manager Kristen Schilt will visit each 20
year investment member to acknowledge and thank them for their dedicated investment and
present them with an appreciation plaque soon.
Copsey then walked the guests through a two-year review and update of the PCED office. The
review included changes in the office, recent successes, upcoming projects and futuristic
thoughts. The evening ended in revealing a new marketing video that will be used to entice
and encourage anyone that views it to take a more in-depth look into what Paulding County has
to offer. The video can be found on the PCED Facebook or LinkedIn social media pages.
Photo Credit: West Bend
