Lawrence B. Clarke

Lawrence B. Clarke, Bank One's head of community development in western Ohio, said the bank is responding to customers in the Hispanic community.

"Clearly, language is their greatest barrier as they try to succeed in business and establish personal roots in our communities," Clarke said."Bank One is working to remove that barrier for our customers."

Clarke has been active with the Greater Dayton Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Latino Connection, a grass roots organization championing the interests of the Latino community in the Miami Valley.

Dayton's Hispanic population has almost doubled in 10 years to 2,626, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.However, officials suspect the total may be several times higher.

Spanish-speaking communities have evolved in the Huffman Historic District of East Dayton, along East Second and East Third streets, at West Third Street and Gettysburg Avenue and between North Main Street and Salem Avenue north of the Great Miami River.

Many of the immigrants are from Mexico while others are from Cuba and Central and South America.
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In addition to the Spanish language ATMs, Clarke said Bank One offers Spanish language telephone banking for customers in Ohio.

"We've also hired a bi-lingual banker to serve customers at our East Dayton banking center, 2000 E. Third St.," Clarke said.

Contact Jim Bohman at 225-2242 or at jim bohman@coxohio.com

[From the Dayton Daily News: 11.07.2002]

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Lawrence B. Clarke

Lawrence B Clarke

Larry Clarke, president of the board of trustees, said the roof and heater at the library have been replaced, the exterior has been painted, the driveway has been repaved and a restroom for handicapped patrons has been added.

To date, the trustees have spent more than $90,000 on renovations, Clarke said.The money came from fund-raisers and donations, he said, including an anonymous $10,000 donation to paint the building.

Clarke said members of Master Gardeners of Camden County are volunteering to repair the 100-year-old English boxwood garden in front of the library on High Street and the boxwood maze behind the building.

"The board members wanted to see the building start to realize some of its potential," Clarke said."Everything was wearing down and deteriorating.
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Clarke said the trustees want to renovate the entrance, replace the carpet and create a children's room on the second floor.They also want to turn a room on the first floor into museum space to display historic books and artifacts, including the original library charter from King George III of England in 1765.

Clarke said the trustees are also working to borrow back some items given to the New Jersey State Museum in Tren-ton in the 1920s and 1930s.
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Clarke said he hopes to complete all of the work in two years.However, he said, the timing depends on when the board receives the funding.

The library's operations are funded primarily through donations, Clarke said.The board has applied for grants to help with the renovations, he said.

As another funding source, the trustees want to rent space to groups for meetings and begin hosting weddings and banquets.

"We have to develop a financial plan to become self-sustaining," Clarke said.

Lawrence B. Clarke, Past Chair V.P. Government, Not For Profit and Healthcare JP Morgan Chase, N.A.