A 2005 U.S. Census report says 2.6% of Peoria County's population is Hispanic.
And that number is steadily growing.

Area agencies are looking for ways to better serve the needs of the Hispanic Community through a new outreach network.

Teresa Fandel has worked at the Knoxville Commerce Bank for more than seven years and says she's seen a major change in customer's needs.

"I've seen a growth with Hispanic customers coming in and needing help with their banking services and it's more the language barrier," said Fandel.

Fandel says she became so overwhelmed with the demand for tanslating...

"Buenos tardes. Commerce Bank, Knoxville..."

...that when a position opened this summer, they hired Robert Taylor, who has banking experience and is bilingual.

"I think it's very important. The Mexican community in this town has a huge presence and a lot of them don't know the way a lot of things work around here," said Taylor.

Hispanic outreach at Peoria's Friendship House is limited to one person, who has been gone for the past week on a family emergency. The director says when she's not around, it becomes difficult to serve the local Hispanic Community.
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"There are so many places in Peoria that don't have Spanish–Speaking help like the employment offices, doctor's offices, law offices, courts, and etcetera," said Peoria Friendship House's Dr. Barbara Hartnett.

And that's why representatives from dozens of area social services, businesses, and organizations are forming a new Hispanic Outreach group in Peoria.

"Our goal is to put together all the resources that are out there under one networking group so the families that aren't represented at the table tonight are able to benefit from our efforts," said Nick Williams, Hispanic Outreach Group's interim president.

Participants say those families can bank on getting their needs met and become productive citizens of Central Illinois.

A new website has been launched that will soon provide a database of organizations that reach out to the Hispanic community and offer bilingual and educational service.
For more information go to W–E–E–K–DOT–COM and click on Newslinks.