GARY | At a time when money is everyone's major focus in a turbulent economy, learning how to handle it is a lesson that everyone needs to learn.

That's the message officials from government, the banking industry and the education sector brought to the kick-off for the third annual "Money Smart Week" Thursday morning at Indiana University Northwest School of Business in Gary. The local program was Centier Bank Financial Literacy Coordinator Dian Reyome.

Sponsored by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago throughout the Midwest, "Money Smart Week" is scheduled to begin Oct. 11 and to run through Oct. 18 in Indiana. During that week, free seminars and other educational programs for all ages are set to be supported by banks and businesses in Northwest Indiana.

Key speakers at Thursday's launch of the program included Doug Tillett, vice president of public affairs for Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.

Managing money "has always been important, but today in the current situation, there's so much turmoil," said Tillett. "People need more understanding of financial preparedness. That need has never been greater."

The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago initiated "Money Smart Week" to provide a one-stop-shopping source for the average citizen to receive financial information and education in a comfortable setting, Tillett said.

"Do I think that people will get everything they need in a one-hour session or class? No. But we hope it will spur them on to get even more information so they can make good money decisions," he said.