Butler County businesses faced challenges in 2022
Throughout 2022, Butler County saw a slew of new businesses, transitions at some long-standing businesses, the announcement of a health system merger and inflation galore.
Here are our top business and economy stories in 2022:
Hovis Truck Services in Emlenton, Venango County, was hit with a major fire in early January.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the business’ main building, which includes several commercial truck bays, a retail area and offices, engulfed in flame. No one was inside the building and no one was injured.
The building was considered a total loss.
A February recall of some baby formula products made by Abbott Nutrition — which include Similac, Alimentum and EleCare baby formula — exacerbated worries during the earlier part of the baby formula shortage in May.
Though the Abbott Nutrition production facility at the heart of much of the shortages reopened July 1, families with infants in Butler County dealt most of the year with a shortage of baby formula.
The Lyndora Hotel raised $16,706 for those in Ukraine at a fundraiser in early March.
Co-owner Mike Pawk said the organization Brother’s Brother Foundation in Pittsburgh used 100% of the funds for medical supplies, food and clothing for those suffering from Russia's invasion.
The Butler Eagle also reported in 2022 that the Lyndora Hotel was for sale.
Infrastructure has been a big topic of conversation, both nationally and locally.
In March, a panel of county officials spoke before a room full of the county’s movers and shakers to discuss infrastructure projects, such as upgrades to the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport and initiatives revolving around economic growth, among many other topics.
Two building projects under simultaneous construction by Butler County Community College were hit by increases in material and supply costs in early April, according to BC3 president Nick Neupauer.
One was for $3.5 million to fund construction of the Victor K. Phillips Nursing and Allied Health Building on the main campus, and the other for $800,000 to purchase furniture, technology and instructional equipment for its Armstrong County facility.
April was topped off by the beginning of an eminent domain dispute by the Breakneck Creek Regional Authority and resident Frederick “Fritz” Bielo, who owns an 85-acre farm at the intersection of Myoma and Peters roads.
The plan was to use part of Bielo’s property, which measures 1,200 feet long and 20 feet wide, to place a sewerline, but in early August the eminent domain discussion was taken off the table.
In June, officials from Excela Health and Butler Health System announced an expected merger between the two health systems.
Ken DeFurio, president and chief executive officer at BHS, said the move will allow both systems to add and improve clinical offerings and services, improve efficiency, reduce costs and provide higher quality care to patients.
The two health systems entered into a definitive agreement to combine into a new health system in November.
In June, the Butler Eagle reported that one of the county’s longest-standing businesses, the Hotel Saxonburg, was put up for sale by owner Judy Ferree.
She said the liquor license is included in the $1.2 million sale price so that the facility will continue as a tavern and restaurant.
Ferree said she is selling the historic hotel and restaurant, which has been in continuous operation since 1832 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, in preparation for retirement.
At the end of July, Ed Bloom, longtime owner of Bortmas, The Butler Florist, decided to close his doors, but the closing was short-lived when Larry and Cindy Steffen of Clinton Township bought the business and reopened in early November.
Butler Area School District began to experience a shortage of bus drivers in September, despite less routes from the closing of Butler Middle School.
John Demkowicz, director of transportation at Seneca Valley, said the school district uses two providers, Valley Lines and ABC Transport, to convey the 8,500 students who ride buses throughout the district.
Despite the two providers, Demkowicz described the bus staffing situation in the district as “critical.” Route planners work to optimize drive times every year, but around September, it's especially important considering the shortage in drivers.
The bus driver shortage added to a number of other shortages covered during 2022, including a shortage of volunteer firefighters.
Technology stocks led a broad rally on Wall Street at the end of October, which capped off another strong week for the market as investors welcomed solid profits from Apple and other companies.
At this time, the S&P 500 rose 2.5% and posted its first back-to-back weekly gains since August.
Also nationally, Elon Musk took control of Twitter after a protracted legal battle and months of uncertainty.
As colder weather found its way into Butler County in November, residents experienced rising energy costs, such as heating due to high diesel prices.
This has lead some people to flock to businesses such as Martin Sales & Service in Butler for wood pellet stoves as a heating alternative.
In December, a Christmas Day fire destroyed a landmark business in West Sunbury. Thompson’s Country Market was destroyed in the blaze.
December was capped off with some potentially record-high grocery prices, such as eggs, which according to Nick Zorbas, a Save A Lot store manager in Butler, had risen in price from about $4 for an 18-pack of eggs, to about $7.
Egg prices have soared for many reasons, such as high chicken feed costs and low egg production due to cold weather, in addition to cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at large chicken farms in parts of the country.
And after a year of shortages, Butler County residents ended the year with another shortage. In December, the Butler Eagle reported an amoxicillin and a Tylenol shortage.
