The Paulding County Economic Development Dinner for the community took place on Tuesday, September 15 at the Fairgrounds in Paulding. The evening began with meet & greet session and following that was the dinner. Jerry Zielke, PCED Director opened the evening.
Two great speakers on this evening were Sarah Stubblefield and Dave Dorner.
Jerry reported after the dinner over $20,000,000 in private dollars were being spent in local business investments in a minimum of 30 active projects including business startups, major manufacturing equipment updates, business expansions and new companies looking at the area.
PCED Banquet 2015 Silver Members – Front Row: Peter Prichard – Vantage Career Center, Donna Garman – Herber Orr, Terry Belland – Lafarge, Eric Baughman – Baughman Tile
Back Row: Larry Manz an PCED At Large Member, Sarah Noggle PCED Board Member
The projects next year looks to be growing tremendously. including a new professional office building in Antwerp being built by Sarah Mowery DDS, Ed’s Car Care’s expansion in Paulding, the large Blue Creek & Latty township wind project will be starting back up very soon. The large Harrison township EDP wind project looks to start sometime in 2016 as well as a number of other projects. The total estimated private capital investment in these projects will be over 400 million dollars.
“Every manufacturer in the last two months is hiring new employees.” stated Zielke. “Lafarge cement business has been very brisk this summer.”
The Paulding Small Business Innovation Center at 103 E Perry St. (Former Paulding County Law Library) will be opened in the next year by the PCED, leased from the Paulding County Commissioners. The center will not only have conference rooms, but will also offer small business office space for business startups, making it easier for small business owners to get off the ground.
2015 Gold Members awards – Back Row: Harry Wiebe, Vice President; Mayor Greg White. Middle Row: Terry Wehrkamp, Cooper Farms; Beth Coughlin, Bashore Reineck, Stoller & Waterman; Joyce Parrish, Antwerp Exchange Bank; Sara Keeran, Antwerp CIC. Front Row: Roger Sierer, Paulding Village Council Member; Tom VanVlerah, Antwerp Village; Erika Willitzer, Paulding Putnam Electric Cooperative.
The Workforce Development project has been a major undertaking by the office this past. Hosting the Career Opportunity Showcase and job fair in March, PCED will partner with Defiance, Williams, Fulton and Henry County in a hosting a Manufacturers Day at NWSCC at Archbold on October 2, 2015. The PCED office has been working closely with all the area schools and colleges. A trained workforce is critical for continued growth of business and industries here in Paulding County and also to attract new business to the area.
Jerry also mentioned the state issues including the bipartisan redistricting change.
One of the most important votes mentioned was the 4H county wide tax levy for OSU extension. “This is a very important program for me.” he stated. “The passage of this levy is critical for the continued growth of this community and providing future leaders for Paulding County.”
The evening was very nice for everyone who attended. It’s great to see all the hard work being done to try and increase job opportunities in the local communities of Paulding County.
PCED Banquet Community Investment Awards – Back Row: Linda Hodges, PCED Secretary; Joe B. Barker, WMYW 102.7; John Kobee, PCED Middle Row: Lisa McClure, PCAF Fairground Fund; Kathy Cadwallader, Paulding Dairy Queen; Kim & Tom Sinn, Paulding Ace Hardware. Front Row: Terry Belland, Lafarge North America; Donna Garman, Herbert E. Orr Company; Terry Wehrkamp, Cooper Farms; Clint Reagle, Alex Products. Not pictured: PSG Holding LLC, Putman Law Office, and The Greenhouse Effect.
PCED Banquet 2015 Bronze Members – Top Row: Linda Hodges PCED Secretary, Mike Kauser PCED Board Member, Randy Daeger – PolyOne, Larry Manz – Insource Technologies and PCED Board Member Middle Row: Megan Meeks, First Financial Bank, Elizabeth Vance First Federal Bank, Kathy Cadwallader – Paulding Dairy Queen and PCED Board Member, Clint Reagle – Alex Products,Bottom Row: Dennis Recker PCED Board Member, Steve Sinn – Tri County Roofing
