Butler Downtown recognizes growth, community enrichment
Business owners, volunteers and city contributors gathered Wednesday, Nov. 8, for the Butler Downtown Annual Awards at Butler's Grand Ballroom as Butler Downtown unveiled its latest updates — including a new logo — and honored esteemed community members.
“The event is a small gesture of recognition for people or businesses in the community that have positively impacted Downtown,” Audrianna Bly, president of Butler Downtown, said before the celebration.
This year, Butler Downtown named Rosanne Natili as Volunteer of the Year, presented its small business award to Clear Choice Enterprises and recognized Armstrong Group with an economic impact award.
“The (Farmers’ Market) is important to me because it has so much to offer the community,” Natili said. “Besides the wonderful assortment of foods and household products, you have the opportunity to interact with your neighbors and support the local economy or vendors.”
Jordan Grady, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, presented the Small Business of the Year award to Pete and Julie Sebock, owners and Realtors of Clear Choice Enterprises and the Economic Impact Award to Allen Hassler of Armstrong Group.
“I think I speak for everyone in the room that Armstrong has made everyone’s life through this digital transition a whole lot easier,” Grady said.
Hassler, Armstrong’s general manager, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. The company employs 400 people, and its call center has been downtown for 60 years, he said.
“Without the community, we don’t exist,” Hassler said. “We support the people we employ and everything the community does.”
“We just live in this community and love this community,” Julie Sebock said. “Our journey was just probably like a lot of small business owners who had a dream and thought, what can I do?”
In addition to presenting awards, leaders of the different Butler Downtown committees discussed the enrichment work they have done over the past year, which included expanding the Fairy Door Trail to include 19 doors, replacing the trees along Main Street and renovating the Penn Theater.
Jeff Geibel, president of the Butler AM Rotary Club and past Butler Downtown president, touched on economic revitalization and the Butler Economic Readiness Initiative, for which a $50,000 grant has been secured.
Mikayla Moretti, organization committee chairperson, discussed the Farmers’ Market and events such as Bowl for Butler and Night at the Ballpark.
This year was the first year for Sips in the City, a wine, beer and spirits walk that raised $10,000 with over 300 participants, she said.
Amber Omstead, promotions committee chairperson, highlighted three ribbon cuttings in the city, noting that the opening of Crystal Coven on Main Street marked the reopening of all storefronts affected by the January 2021 fire.
“There’s so much good happening here,” Geibel said. “There’s a lot of momentum.”
