The Paulding County Business Advisory Council held their Q4 meeting here at the OSU Extension Building today, on the campus of the Paulding County Fairgrounds. The event is facilitated by the Paulding County Economic Development office. Representatives from the all three county schools and Vantage Career Center made presentations to the business community attendees. Each discussed updates on projects taking place at their schools that could be of benefit to local businesses and offered opportunities where the businesses might partner with them to have hands on learning at each site. Vantage provided detailed information in regard to Paulding County students attending (165) and business visits taking place to talk to the students today. To date only one business in the county has taken the opportunity to visit and present to the students.
The theme of the day was of course workforce. Data and thoughts about how to overcome some of the open employment gaps were discussed including: childcare, transportation and salary and benefits. There is continued discussion with local economic development directors within the six-county area to develop a new salary and benefits survey but it was questioned if a Paulding County specific survey might also be warranted.
Opportunities were again shared by the schools in regard to student tours at facilities around the county. The idea was submitted about businesses visiting the schools to explain what the businesses do, and getting the students comfortable with business personnel. Thoughts were shared on senior student work release program opportunities and upcoming college summer help options as well.
The discussion took place in regard to new opportunities that could be made available with the collaboration of businesses and schools. The redevelopment of the Paulding County Career Day event was tossed out. This event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to covid. Surveys will be used to determine if this event can take place in Q1 or early Q2 of 2022. Michael Schweinsberg, with the OSU Extension office, presented some thoughts to the group in regard to a virtual reality simulator that could be used to video local manufacturing businesses and allow students to tour facilities without leaving the classroom. Thoughts for funding the cost of this equipment were discussed.
The event closed out hearing from Paulding County Economic Development Director Tim Copsey in tying local businesses back into the county fair. For nearly a decade some of the most established county businesses have sponsored a day at the fair to allow free admission all week long. However, there have been no opportunities to have a business presence inside the fair. This year Tim Schaeffer reached out from the fair board, to the Economic Development office, to see if collaboration can take place to get as many county businesses as possible on the fairgrounds. A free booth opportunity will be provided for businesses, during fair week June 11-18, to display their production pieces, retail products, equipment they supply to the market, or simply a display about what they do and open employment opportunities. These booths can be manned or unmanned. It is up to each individual business to decide. The hope is to flood the fairgrounds with opportunities for adults and students alike to learn more about the county and grow county pride going forward.To learn more about any of these discussions or to join this council please contact Office Manager Kristen Schilt in the PC Economic Development office 419-399-8295. The next PC BAC meeting will be hosted in March.
