PAULDING – United Way of Paulding County is now considering applications from qualified agencies for the 2013-14 campaign allocation process.

Agencies/organizations wishing to submit programs for consideration may either pick up Community Impact Grant (CIG) packets at the United Way office at 101 E. Perry St., Paulding, or may request an electronic packet by emailing the executive director at pcuwdirector@gmail.com.

Electronic files can be sent immediately; paper CIG packets will be available beginning Monday, April 8.

Completed requests are due by May 22 at 3 p.m. Late or incomplete packets will not be accepted. Completed application grant packets may be may be sent to 101 E. Perry St., Paulding OH 45879, or dropped off at the UWPC office before 3 p.m. May 22.

United Way of Paulding County office is a part-time office; Monday and Tuesday are the best days to reach the director in the office at 419-399-8240 or leave a message.

A qualified agency must be established as tax-exempt organization under the IRS Code Section 501(c)(3) and provide services/programs in United Way’s focus areas of education, income or health.

The allocation packet requests agency information in the areas of: constitution and bylaws, management, financial reports, statement of cooperation and statement of nondiscrimination, to name a few. The agency must additionally meet the funding criteria, financial accountability, community needs, program priorities and program effectiveness, which include outcome measures.

United Way of Paulding County and its partner agencies share two common goals in the allocation process relative to the overall mission: 1) To fund real community needs as fully as possible and 2) To allocate available funds for optimum effect among these needs. Whereas, each agency views community needs from its own specific viewpoint, the United Way must look at agencies and needs from the view of the total community.

Local volunteers serving on the Citizens Review Panel and the volunteer members of the United Way of Paulding County Board of Directors determine where the funds will be invested. These volunteers reflect a cross-section of the community.

United Way of Paulding County is proud of helping our friends and neighbors for 21 years and is one of over 1,300 local, independent United Ways across the country.

PAULDING – In 1993, Paulding County Commissioners Tony Langham, Maurice Wannemacher and Elaine Harp created an economic development office for Paulding County. Monthly meetings were held with an advisory board, the commissioners, and its first director, Sara Keeran. In 1999, the commissioners asked the two Community Improvement Committees (CICs) in the county to form what is today known as Paulding County Economic Development (PCED), and they directed that the PCED board be responsible for the PCED office and its operations.

From the start, one of the primary programs that was used, and still is to this day, is the Paulding County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF).

The goal of the RLF Program is to provide financing to corporations, partnerships or sole proprietorships. This financing can be for building acquisition, new construction and/or expansion, equipment, or remodeling for businesses located in Paulding County.

The source of funds for this program is derived from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that are administered by Ohio Development Services (ODS). The loans made to Paulding County businesses are repaid to the Paulding County RLF so that the money will be available to re-loan to other businesses.

To be eligible for this program, the following criteria must be met: Projects must create or retain jobs; 51 percent of all jobs must be made available to persons from low to moderate income households; business must be located in Paulding County.

The loan amount can be up to $25,000 for each new job created or up to 40 percent of the project, whichever is less. The interest rate is at a low fixed rate, currently 3 percent, with the fixed term of up to 20 years. As an example, a typical loan would be 40 percent RLF, 50 percent local bank, and 10 percent owner equity.

The minimum requirements are: creation of new jobs; financial participation by at least one private lender; adequate collateral as loan security.

Necessary documentation includes: independent project cost estimates; historic and projected financial statements; commitments for new equity and private lender participation; and an environmental impact study.

All applications are made to the PCED office located at 101 E. Perry St. in Paulding. The staff there will be helpful in explaining details regarding the documentation required. Applications are reviewed by the Paulding County RLF Committee, and ODS approval must be made prior to a business starting its project. The entire process will take a minimum of 90 days to complete.

PCED administers the Paulding County Revolving Loan Fund, maintains records, and completes required reports to the state and the Paulding County commissioners.

The PCED office has tabulated data over the years on Revolving Loan Fund loans made in Paulding County. These tabulations show that the RLF program has assisted county businesses with 32 loans totaling $2,618,315, and 376 new jobs have been created. This has resulted in millions of dollars in Paulding County employer payroll to date.

It is the mission of Paulding County Economic Development “To assist business, industry and local government in developing job opportunities and prosperity in Paulding County.”

To learn more about this program as well as others, call 419-399-8282, or email pced@bright.net. Also check out their website at www.pced.net.

COLUMBUS – The Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) announces that Northwest Ohio Wind Energy LLC will hold a public informational meeting on Tuesday, April 9 to inform the public of its plans to develop a 100 megawatt (MW) capacity wind farm in Paulding County.

The meeting will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Wayne Trace Junior/Senior High School at Haviland.

Northwest Ohio Wind Energy, (OPSB Case No. 12-0197-EL-BGN) proposes to build approximately 50 wind turbines and associated infrastructure, including collection lines and a step-up transformer.

This project encompasses more than 9,000 acres in Blue Creek and Latty Townships in Paulding County and would connect to the electric grid at AEP-Ohio’s Haviland Substation.

The OPSB requires project developers such as Northwest Ohio Wind Energy to hold a public informational meeting before submitting an application to the board. This meeting is intended to provide area residents with the opportunity to review a map of the proposed project and discuss the project with company representatives. Representatives from the OPSB will also be available to answer questions about the OPSB Certificate process and explain how members of the public can participate.

Additional information regarding this project is available on the OPSB website at www.OPSB.ohio.gov.

PAULDING – Two incumbents were returned to their seats on the Paulding-Putnam Electric Cooperative Board of Trustees during the cooperative’s 76th annual meeting on Saturday, March 16, at the cooperative office.

By JIM LANGHAM • Feature Writer

PAYNE – Two significant records fell this past weekend at the 35th annual Basketball Marathon.

PAULDING – Vicky Hull, an 18-year employee of the Paulding County Carnegie Library, was promoted to assistant director at the board of trustees regular meeting on March 19.