Spencer, IA--The Board of Directors of the Siouxland Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is pleased to announce it has selected Bruce Klenken of Northwest Bank in Spencer, IA, as the SEDC Lender of the Year for 2011.  This annual award is given to a commercial lender in the SEDC area (14 counties in Siouxland) who has demonstrated a high regard for customer service and has successfully and creatively utilized the SBA 504 Loan Program to further economic development. 

Dusty Small, Chairperson of the SEDC Board of Directors, commented, “The Lender of the Year award has been created to recognize outstanding performance by private lenders.  Bruce Klenken has proven to us more than once that he is a valued small business advocate committed to economic development in the greater Siouxland area.”  In 2011, SEDC and Bruce Klenken cooperated in completing economic development projects totaling more than $4.7 million that have created or retained 140 jobs in the Siouxland area. 

Bruce Klenken is an Assistant Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer at Northwest Bank in Spencer, IA.  He has been employed at Northwest Bank for more than 15 years, and has worked in the banking industry for 31 years.  Bruce is a native of Spirit Lake, IA.  He received his Associates Degree from Iowa Lakes Community College and his Bachelors of Science in Business and History from South Dakota State University (SDSU). Bruce has also successfully completed the Dale Carnegie Course, Iowa Banker’s Association Commercial and Consumer Lending Schools.  Bruce and his wife, Susan, reside in Spencer, IA, with their two daughters, Allison, 17, and Jenny, 15.  Bruce is actively involved in the Spencer Ambassadors, Spencer Family YMCA, Spencer Main Street Program, and Bethany Lutheran Church. 

SEDC Chairperson, Dusty Small, went on to say “Over the 30 year history of SEDC and the SBA 504 program, the family of Northwest Bank and First National Bank, owned by Northwest Financial Corp., Arnolds Park, Iowa, have worked cooperatively with SEDC to complete 32 SBA 504 projects that total more than $30.3 million and have created or retained numerous jobs.  Northwest Bank and Bruce Klenken have also successfully utilized other SEDC and SBA lending programs to promote small business start-up and expansion in the greater Siouxland area.  SEDC extends its congratulations to Bruce Klenken, Northwest Bank, and the entire Northwest/First National Bank System for being selected as the 2011 SEDC Lender of the Year.  SEDC appreciates the support Bruce Klenken and Northwest Bank has shown their business community through the utilization of SBA and SEDC loan products to turn plans into realities and we look forward to continuing our long and mutually beneficial partnership with Bruce and the entire Northwest/First National Bank system.”

An open house reception and presentation of the award will be held at La Chiesa in Spencer, Iowa, on Monday, June 11, 2012 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.