How will the nation's economic recovery affect the Quad Cities? That question was discussed before an audience of local leaders Tuesday during a meeting featuring an official with the Federal Bank of Chicago.

For Quad City business leaders the news was good. They learned locally, the economy is headed in the right direction. One of the big signs of that is Quad City manufacturers like Deere and Alcoa are calling back hundreds of laid off workers.

"They didn't call those people back just to sit around. They called them back to work and it really means farm equipment and construction equipment have increased business. We're seeing increased orders and increased business," says KWQC Financial Analyst Jim Victor.

That's good news on multiple fronts. Manufacturing is expected to keeping improving, helping both regional and local economies.

"Manufacturing still kind of represents the sector that defines the Midwest economy more than any other. In fact, manufacturing will have a much better run in regard to the economy than the overall economy," adds William Strauss, Economic Advisor for the Federal Bank of Chicago.

With manufacturing expanding and hiring back workers, more people will be spending again and that may encourage other businesses to start hiring.

Victor adds, "They're confident it can continue, they will add employees to other areas as well."

There's more good news for the Quad Cities. Housing is still doing well.

"The dollar volume of transactions is up and indeed the average price of transactions in the most recent month is 19-percent higher than one year ago," According to Victor.

Since the area never had a housing bust, that will help the Quad Cities in the long run.

Victor adds, "Our recovery in fact can be better than in other parts of the country."

As for whether the local economy will continue to grow, that depends on how things go on the national front.  And while experts say things are looking up, only time will tell.