Positive outlook for Toledo economy

PERRYSBURG, Ohio (WUPW) - With all that bad news in the economy lately, there is a positive economic outlook for our community.

It was laid out in Perrysburg Tuesday night at a dinner put on by the Toledo Metropolitan Area Council of Government. It was area government and business leaders who were putting their heads together to see where this area is headed ( MORE: ' Toledo is now open for business' , T he Sentinel-Tribune, a FOX Toledo News media partner).

The overall thought was that the area doesn't go anywhere, unless it goes together.

While growth has been slow, our region has seen the number of small business loans grow from 2008 to 2009, so money is starting to flow to companies. The area is also seeing people transition from things like auto jobs to jobs in things like solar energy.

There is also money out there for small businesses, if the entrepreneurs ask around.

"Where I go to 2 or 3 small banks and say, ’Are you willing to each take a position of this loan, so instead of one of you lending me half a million dollars, each of you lends me a little?’ and I would get some kind of participation and I spread the risk to all of them," said Steve Weathers, President and CEO of the Regional Growth Partnership.

Weathers also said the RGP is talking with a major research institute on the west coast about starting up an operation around here.

Some of the other strong areas of growth, aside from “green energy” are Medical/Bio technology companies and advanced manufacturing.