MERRILLVILLE │ The Regional Development Co. held its annual membership meeting Thursday at Gamba Ristorante. In addition to electing board members the RDC touted its 2012 accomplishments and presented awards to leading banks and lenders.
In 2012 the RDC had 45 loans approved and more than $21 million gross debenture dollars approved. The RDC also had more than $54 million total leveraged investment, “which is huge,” said RDC President and Executive Director Erica Dombey-Passauer.
The RDC also created or retained 282 jobs in 2012.
“I think that’s something to be proud of,” Passauer said.
RDC loan approvals increased 44 percent over 2011 and 147 percent over 2009.
Loan funding increased 46 percent over 2011 and portfolio balance increased 7 percent, the highest amount since 2009.
Brock Lloyd, vice president of commercial lending, The LaPorte Savings Bank, won the 2012 Most Active Lender award for four loans approved for a total of $2.5 million.
It was a team effort,” said Lloyd, whose office is in Chesterton and does business in Lake and Porter counties. “I find the opportunities but then the bank itself -- we’ve really set ourselves up to get loans approved and help businesses grow.”
Lloyd said it feels good to sit down with people and the Small Business Administration to help businesses grow.
“I really feel like this year, more than the last few years, things are picking up,” he said.
The award for Most Active Bank Lender went to Peoples Bank for its nine loans and $4.5 million debenture dollars.
“We worked hard at it,” said Peoples Bank President and CEO Joel Gorelick. “A year ago we didn’t win it. We used to win it quite often. We said it isn’t going to happen next year. We decided last year that we were going to win this award.”
The RDC also announced it is looking to hire an experienced credit analyst. For a job description and more information, visit www.rdc504.org.
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