Lydia Mihalik, Director of the Ohio Department of Development (ODoD), visited Paulding County during visits in northwest Ohio this week. Director Mihalik made two stops while in the village.
The first stop originated at the city administration offices, located in the old historic railroad depot on the west side of the village. Mihalik was greeted by Paulding County Economic Development (PCED) Director Tim Copsey before being introduced to Antwerp Village Mayor Jan Reeb, Administrator Brian Davis, and Councilman Steve Jordan. Also attending were: Estee Miller representing as a board member of the Ohio Land Bank and Maumee Valley Planning Organization; Paulding County Commissioners Mark Holtsberry and Lisa McClure; Lu Cooke, NW Ohio Liaison for Lt. Governor Jon Husted; Antwerp Local School Superintendent Marty Miller and Treasurer Kristine Stuart; and Kristen Schilt, Office Manager for the PCED office.
Following introductions, Copsey briefly shared data about the county prior to the group introducing many of the funded projects taking place in the village. Estee Miller shared the success of the county land bank using the $1.5 million in funds ODoD allocated to each Ohio county last year. The county land bank completed 27 projects in the county (the most of any county in the six-county area). A list is already compiled for commercial and residential blight removal for the 2023-2024 allocated funding.
Village Administrator Davis thanked Mihalik for the recent $577,000 grant for water tower rehabilitation in the village before expanding on what the funds would be used for and what it meant to the small rural community.
Copsey then provided information and an update about the Holly Beach Splash pad (named after the late school teacher Holly Kobee). The splash pad received $125,000 from the last Ohio state capital budget funding cycle. The pad is currently being installed at Riverside Park in the village. Copsey thanked the director for the $111,000 grant for road infrastructure funding to begin a road easement into the 80+ acre development at the US24 Exit 3/Highway 49 intersection.
ALS Superintendent Marty Miller shared about the exciting new athletic complex addition that will soon be built at the school. The ALS School Board decided to put their covid funding dollars into a facility that would help with the mental and physical health and benefit all local residents, teachers and students. The new $1.487million 5616 square foot facility will also allow the wrestling team to come back onto the school campus from the old 1936 school gym facility downtown, where they practice today. One of the most exciting pieces is that there will be a new classroom built in the building that will house preschool students. Early sign-up numbers indicate that the next preschool class will be the largest preschool class to ever register in the district. Additionally, due to the new facility proximity to the existing softball and baseball fields, the building will host a concession stand, public restrooms and a press box.
Copsey then explained the new 40,000 square foot $15million addition to the village’s largest employer, Paragon Tempered Glass. The private investment was supported by a $50,000 grant from JobsOhio and a local tax abatement incentive. The addition will house new automated processing and tempering lines and will add 9 new employees to the existing 109 employees.
Director Mihalik expressed her excitement for the community and Paulding County overall. She also pointed out that the new village mural was absolutely beautiful. It was then noted some grant funding programs are not always totally depleted in Ohio and she believed that with the collaboration taking place in Paulding County and Antwerp today, there should be no reason a path couldn’t be found to incorporate more grant funding into additional and new projects. Mihalik then reiterated a quote from Lt. Governor Jon Husted, “Those who collaborate win. Those who don’t fall behind.” She added, “It is clear that there is collaboration taking place here.”
The discussion began to wind down as Mihalik asked what more ODoD could do to help? Copsey shared a potential project of bringing water and sewer to the US24/Highway 127 intersection. With the heavy truck traffic from all directions now at that intersection, development there could certainly benefit the county. Davis pointed out that the village water system is coming to end of life and grant funding assistance there would be appreciated. Mihalik indicated that once plans are developed they should be shared with ODoD for review to see if there might be help available.
The group then travelled to their second stop at the corner of Railroad Street and Main Street. This is the location of the old Pocock building that owner Jeff Cook is rehabilitating with a nearly $1million investment. The building now houses the locally owned Antwerp Pharmacy and More than Boutique retail stores at ground level, as well as a future apartment and two VRBO rentals upstairs. Progress on the upstairs projects continue. A tour of the building followed.
Outside the building, the group watched work taking place on Railroad Street from Main Street, one block west to Cleveland Street. The local work is being completed by Kauser Excavating and Flat Rock Concrete. The funding for this project was coordinated through Maumee Valley Planning and assisted by Paulding County Community Block Development Grant dollars, approved by county commissioners. Redeveloping the street and sidewalk will allow better water drainage for the rehabilitated building, and more street parking to accommodate the additional vehicles produced by the stores, apartments and VRBO rentals.
Mihalic, and her Senior Administrative Assistant Julie Kirk, thanked the group for their time and introduction to Paulding County before heading east to their next visit.
