May is Small Business Awareness Month
Rockford, IL (May 12, 2025) According to the Pew Research Center, 99% of businesses in the United States are classified as small businesses, making up just under 50% of total private sector employment. During Small Business Awareness Month in May, First Mid Bank & Trust (First Mid) wants to highlight the importance of small businesses and feature a strong community partner. Jim Pieschel, Regional Community Bank President at First Mid in Rockford, Illinois, recently helped a local family grow the small business of their dreams.
Greg Nelson, Owner of Matrix Corp Electronics in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, along with his brother Jeff Nelson and father Brian Nelson, purchased their first business in 2019 with the help of commercial lending from First Mid and Pieschel. Since then, their business has grown 35%, and they recently purchased Matrix Corp, a contract manufacturer for circuit boards, to expand their portfolio. Whether it’s a prototype or a piece for production, Matrix Corp has completed thousands of assemblies. Nelson said Pieschel is honest, reliable and dependable, which is exactly what a business owner is looking for in a banking partner.
“Jim really cares,” Nelson said. “He was extremely engaged in the process and physically had a presence, which was very meaningful for us. When we bought our first business, there was a local lender that would’ve been easy to go with. However, Jim went out and looked at the business operations and really took time to study and understand the area where our business would be located. He did the same thing when we were looking to purchase Matrix Corp, making sure he knew the ins and outs of what we were getting into.”
Pieschel said when someone wants to start a small business, it’s crucial to examine all the different moving parts of the business. This includes looking at years’ worth of financial statements, analyzing the competition, physically going to the place of business and studying the environment, and in this case, looking at the manufacturing process. Pieschel emphasized these are vital steps for any small business owner.
“Building a relationship with Greg, Jeff, and Brian has been wonderful,” Pieschel said. “I’ve seen their business grow firsthand over the last several years, and we’ve truly approached their business decisions as a partnership. Here at First Mid, we take pride in supporting all businesses. We are committed to building strong relationships and helping local businesses with their growth. We’re continuing to open the doors to more and more small business owners, helping them achieve their financial goals while ensuring our communities continue to thrive.”
If you’re looking to start a business, expand your operations, or simply get a great rate on a small personal loan, First Mid lenders can help take your business wherever your ideas may go. Visit www.firstmid.com/commercial-lending/ to find the nearest lender and get started on your journey.
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About First Mid Bancshares, Inc.: First Mid Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of First Mid Bank & Trust, N.A., First Mid Insurance Group, and First Mid Wealth Management Company. First Mid is a $7.5 billion community-focused organization that provides financial services including banking, insurance, wealth management, brokerage, and ag services through a network of locations in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin, and a loan production office in Indiana. Together, our First Mid team takes great pride in providing solutions and services to our customers and communities and has done so since 1865. This year, we proudly celebrate our 160th anniversary, marking a long history of dedication and service. More information about the Company is available on our website at www.firstmid.com. Our stock is traded in The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC under the ticker symbol “FMBH”. Member FDIC | Equal Housing Lender.
Investments and Insurance Products: Not a Deposit | Not Guaranteed by the Bank or its Affiliates | Not FDIC Insured | Not Insured by Any Federal Government Agency | May Go Down in Value.