Business owners will soon have a gathering place in North Bend. Extra space that was once leased out in the Umpqua Bank (formerly Sterling Savings Bank) building is being converted to the Umpqua Community Room, next to the bank.

The space will be used for special events like the North Bend Jazz Walk on March 14.

As bank manager Rob Wotton explains, one of the primary uses of the space will to provide programs to help businesses and community groups grow and thrive.

Hosting community events in their space is not new to Umpqua Bank, which merged with Sterling Bank a year ago, to form the largest bank based on the West Coast with over 350 locations.

While Sterling had been a part of the Valley for 26 years, Wotton said, Umpqua brings new inspiration to banking. Umpqua calls their branches stores; serves their own Umpqua-blend coffee; and offers other amenities like business events and conversation areas.

One of the groups to use the new space is a business advisory panel Wotton is forming, a group that will lend support for other business entrepreneurs and organizational leaders. The product of this group will be the monthly Business Workshop at Umpqua.

The first meeting is at noon on Wednesday, April 1 with the topic “eCommerce and Creating a Better Online Presence.” Participants may bring a sack lunch and there is no cost for attending.

To find out more about the Business Workshop or the room availability, contact the local Umpqua Bank at (425) 888-1616.