Paulding to have small biz seminar

PAULDING – Paulding Chamber of Commerce and the Paulding County Office of Economic Development are working together to host a free small business seminar Thursday, April 21 for persons interested in opening a business of their own and for current small business owners.

It will be conducted from 9 a.m.-noon in the Paulding Kiwanis Building.

Chamber board chairman Melinda Krick and PCED director Tony Langham are spearheading the project.

Plans are under way for a meeting where local entrepreneurs and prospective small business owners can meet face-to-face with professionals from the worlds of economic development, accounting, banking and business law.

Information will be disseminated in the areas of business finances, legal aspects of structuring a business, real estate, advertising, accounting, licensing and permits, insurance, Web design and regulations.

Participation at the seminar is being encouraged with the Antwerp and Payne Chambers of Commerce, Oakwood Development, ACDC, and both of the county’s Community Improvement Corporations (CICs).

Planning the event is two-pronged. First, local professionals are being contacted to form a panel for a question and answer period during the seminar. Letters are going out this week inviting business leaders to represent their fields of expertise.

They are also being offered the opportunity to help sponsor the event.

Second step of formulating this project is to get the word out to individuals about the actual event once a panel has been established.

Events of the day likely will include a one-hour presentation by Merry Beavers from the Small Business Development Center in Defiance. She will give an overview of all matters pertaining to small business.

Also, Langham will discuss programs available through the local economic development office and Jerry Good with Ohio Department of Development in Lima will touch on state programs.

The third hour will consist of discussion with the local panel of experts, expected to be a question and answer format.

There is no cost to attend. For more information or to reserve a seat, contact Langham at his Paulding office, 419.399.8282, or email pced@bright.net. Information will also be listed on the chamber’s Facebook page.