EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD: Community bankers eager to help rebuild economy

The One Region, One Vision initiative of The Times of Northwest Indiana and the Quality of Life Council has taken hold in our community. A remarkable event occurred last month as more than 600 business, labor, academic and community leaders gathered to formulate the way forward for Northwest Indiana.

The session focused on the rebirth of Youngstown, Ohio, a city built in the last century on the steel industry that became mired in the Rustbelt. The Times, in a series of reports, has chronicled the challenges and rebirth of not only Youngstown, but also Flint, Mich., and Duluth, Minn.

These three Midwest manufacturing centers, like our region, share a golden era from generations ago, but they did not believe that their best days were in the past. A common theme in their regeneration centers on the ability to define not who they were, but what they would become in the new age of technology and globalization.

The combined efforts of The Times and the Quality of Life Council has begun a community dialog that will surmount the history, politics and demographics which have served to divide rather than unite our forces in a common direction. Most important of all, we need action that will provide jobs and strengthen our local economy.

Jobs are needed in our local economy, whether in industry or small business. Economic reports consistently show that small business is America's employer of choice, with more men and women employed in small business than big industry.

Going forward, our region should continue to focus on attracting industry that will maximize the proven strength of our organized labor force. At the same time, existing and emerging small businesses can be a source of new local jobs.

Community banks fund home loans and consumer loans and have been a key lending source for small business because of our ability to respond to the needs of locally based businesses. That is why Centier Bank, Citizens Financial Bank and Peoples Bank have joined forces with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to address the financial needs of small business.

On Nov. 10, a prestigious Federal Reserve conference focusing on "Small Business Capital and Development -- An Informed Conversation on Surviving the Economic Storm" will be held at the Dynasty Banquet Center in Hammond. This effort will bring together experts from the Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury Department, Small Business Administration, successful region-based businesses and local bankers in a setting designed to expand the economic potential of small business in our community.

Community bankers are proud to serve our community. We help build the financial strength of our community and welcome the opportunity to assist with your financial needs as we compete for your business.

David Bochnowski is chairman and CEO of Peoples Bank. The opinion expressed in this column is the writer's and not necessarily that of The Times.