Sign of recovery: The return of bank lending

Lending has been making a comeback among Northern Colorado's banks.

According to new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. statistics for the 13 community banks that do business in Northern Colorado, lending as of March 31 shot up to $14.7 billion, $1 billion better than the like quarter in the previous year.

Loans are being made to a variety of businesses, allowing them to move forward in a way that was impossible during the credit crunch caused by the Great Recession.

Here's a look at what three of these borrowers are doing with their money:

Interstate Honda : The Interstate Honda all-terrain vehicle and motorcycle dealership at 858 Southeast Frontage Road in Fort Collins closed its doors in 2010, but thanks to a loan and a line of credit from Capital West National Bank, Fred MacDonald is working to put the dealership back on track.

MacDonald had been looking to buy a dealership for several years when Interstate Honda became available, and at he felt was a good price. MacDonald and his wife also own and operate USAirport Parking at Denver