Paulding County Economic Development Press Release April 8, 2026
PAULDING – The Paulding County Land Reutilization Corporation (Land Bank) committee received several encouraging updates this month as brownfield, residential blight, and housing rehabilitation projects continue progressing throughout the county.
Environmental consultant Matt Wagner of Tetra Tech opened the meeting by announcing that the Ohio EPA has issued the “No Further Action” (NFA) letter for the former JJ Ross Gas Station property in Grover Hill. The NFA letter designates an environmentally clean site and clears the final hurdle for the Land Bank to complete the sale of the property. A purchase agreement is already in place, and a closing will be scheduled soon.
Wagner also reported that the Ohio EPA has approved all documentation related to filling the west Stokely pond on property owned by the Village of Paulding. Soil testing confirmed that the fill dirt is clean, allowing continued remediation and pond bank leveling work to begin. Once final costs are known, the committee will evaluate steps for the east pond. The center pond on the property will remain untouched due to overhead AEP transmission lines. In regard to the 2026 brownfield applications submitted earlier this year, the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) has not yet announced project approvals.
Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey provided an update on behalf of T&M Associates, the environmental consultant for Arvin Environmental, owner of the former Grizzly Brake factory site in Paulding. Nearly 14 acres of foliage has been cleared to prepare for a solar field installation on the site. The clearing allows T&M to complete final soil sampling to confirm the required 24-inch soil cap over the remaining asbestos on the property, per Ohio EPA standards. Additional fill dirt will be added if needed. Once environmental work is complete, a new fence will be installed to split the property and separate the 19 acres of remaining wetlands from the solar development area. Construction of the solar field will then begin, allowing the potential of the first income-producing use of this site since 1980. The solar project development is expected to continue through 2027.
The committee then reviewed progress on the commercial and residential blight program. Abby White of Maumee Valley Planning Organization (MVPO) shared that ODOD has allocated $230,000 for Paulding County’s 2026 blight removal efforts. White estimates that 10–12 properties can be remediated with this year’s funding. The project list has been reviewed and approved by the committee and will be submitted once the ODOD portal opens. White also provided updates on several 2025 projects not yet complete and are still in the final stages of completion.
Grady Vogel, also with MVPO, reported continued progress on the county’s Welcome Home Ohio (WHO) housing rehabilitation grant. Paulding County received $300,000 in 2025 to complete ten affordable housing residential rehab or build projects by June 2027. Vogel announced that the renovation and sale of the home at 714 N. Main Street, Paulding, is now complete. Work is ongoing at 108 S. Main Street, Cecil, and 621 Sugar Street, Paulding. With one project complete and only two projects still open, the committee will begin searching and identifying additional rehabilitation homes.
Additional committee business included:
- Copsey shared updates from recent Paulding Village Council meetings regarding the former theatre lot development. This is a Land Bank-owned property under a purchase agreement with Foundations Behavioral Health, contingent on approval of a village building permit.
- Committee members attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Paulding VFW Veterans Memorial located at 220 North Williams Street. This site is a former Land Bank property that was remediated and prepared for redevelopment, then sold to the VFW.
- The committee approved a $5,000 investment into the Paulding County Sheriff Auction website to position the Land Bank to bid on future foreclosed property opportunities.
- The Land Bank reported a current account balance of $221,149.
The Paulding County Land Bank continues to advance projects that strengthen neighborhoods, return properties to productive use, and support long-term community development throughout the county. They have previously completed projects in all 12 townships and all 11 villages.
