From left, Butler Chamber of Commerce President Jordan Grady; State Rep. Stephenie Scialabba, R-12th; State Sen. Elder Vogel Jr., R-47th; and Mars Mayor Gregg Hartung, participate in a panel Friday morning at the kickoff of Southern Butler County Business Association. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle

ADAMS TWP — Local, state and federal government officials along with area business leaders gathered to discuss the progress of the new Southern Butler County Business Association on Friday over an informal breakfast meeting at Lutheran SeniorLife, 1500 Graham Way.

The association will be an affiliate of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce.

“The entity will actually affiliate under the tax ID of the chamber,” Jordan Grady, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce said. “It will be a membership organization.”

Butler County Commissioner Leslie Osche said strength in numbers is a good thing when it comes to business associations, which she said have a positive impact on the communities and businesses they serve.

“The point as a business group is you have the opportunity to hold elected officials accountable and to work together to make things happen,” Osche said. “You have to understand the collective power you have.”

The association will focus on townships and municipalities in the southern part of Butler County, such as Cranberry Township, Mars, Zelienople, Seven Fields and Evans City.