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Wilkinson said the Executive Director will be Allan C. Bloomquist, Vice President of FBT Bancorp. Wilkinson said South Bend 2000 has acquired for a nominal sum all of First Bank's interest in River Bend Development Group. River Bend Development Group now becomes a joint venture between South Bend 2000, Inc. and Development Control Corporation of Northfield, Illinois, the firm that has been, and will continue to be the "developers" of an enclosed downtown shopping mall. "Development of the proposed downtown shopping mall is an ambitious under- taking," Wilkinson said. "It requires the mobilization of more of the community's financial and talent resources than are at the command.of any one institution. That's why we've come together as a non- profit organization committed to making a best effort attempt to revitalize downtown." Wilki son added:. "The downtown is so important to our community's economic health that if revitalization fails, every citizen loses. If it succeeds, everyone wins. �o The directors of South Bend 2000, Inc. applauded the leadership - attitude taken by the Mayor, the Mayor's Committee on Downtown Development, the Common Council,. the Departm nt of Redevelopment, and other departments of local government. He added, however, that "despite the excellence of these efforts, effective downtown de- velopment also requires the coordinated efforts of private enterprise to assist in meeting downtown development objectives. Hopefully, South Bend 2000, Inc. will be able to provide a strong leadership position in identifying financially feasible strategies for development, and assist in implementing such strategies. In the immediate future, South Bend 2000, Inc. will be placing its full attention on seeking to develop downtown South Bend as the major Michiana retailing center. -2`