Paulding County Economic Development Press Release December 18, 2025
PAULDING — The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center and Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) recently convened the Q4 Business Advisory Council (BAC) at the OSU Extension building, highlighting continued collaboration and innovation in workforce development.
The meeting opened with a discussion on the group’s identity, exploring potential name changes to better reflect its mission. Suggestions included “Community Workforce Development Committee,” “ALIGN Paulding,” and “PACE (Paulding County Alliance for Career and Education).” Following a good discussion, the committee opted to table the decision for future consideration.
Attendees celebrated the success of the Youth Business Showcase and explored merging it with the Next Gen Youth event to create a unified platform for student entrepreneurship and creativity during Small Business Saturday. A committee will work through the details.
A standout highlight was the STNA training initiative, where four Paulding County students earned certification through Vantage Career Center’s Adult Education program. Thanks to a generous contribution from Baughman Tile, a manufacturing facility unrelated to healthcare, all students participated at no cost—an example of cross-sector collaboration driving rural workforce solutions.
PCED Director Tim Copsey elaborated, “It will be this type of collaboration and discussion in future BAC meetings that allow businesses in a rural county like Paulding to sustain and grow. Kudos to Baughman Tile for this investment in our youth and to Vantage Career Center for providing the opportunity.”
Additional topics included:
- Plans to expand the welding cohort at Paulding High School and introduce CDL training.
- A February tour of Sabre Industries for students interested in welding and manufacturing.
- Updates on Teacher Bootcamp funding and potential support from many sources, including OhioMeansJobs.
- Upcoming student-business engagement events in 2026, including career fairs, open houses, and STEAM nights across the county.
To learn more or get involved with the Paulding County BAC, please contact the Paulding County Economic Development office.
