Officials and business leaders gather to discuss new business association
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.
“It's great a group is getting together to focus on the things that are important,” Cranberry Township manager Dan Santoro said. “We are happy to have been invited and participate in the effort.”
According to Cranberry Township’s website, the township is home to more than 30,000 residents, over 20,500 jobs and more than 1,000 businesses.
Santoro said he is not sure what the goals of the association will be, but he is hopeful the gathering of government officials and business leaders can prove to be a benefit for the surrounding communities.
“I don't know what they have laid out as goals and expectations,” Santoro said. “I think like any business association or chamber, there's value in the connections and relationships, in achieving the common goals of the groups in the area.”
Grady said the official mission and vision of the association is yet to be determined. Friday marked the third meeting regarding the formation of the group.
“General membership right now is 13 board members and about 14 other organizations who did not want a seat on the board,” Grady said. “It's going to continue to grow, and you can be as involved as you want.”
At this time, Grady wants to make sure the word of the association’s inaugural members is heard and valued.
To join them, he said all businesses have to do is fill out a two-minute application online to be a part of the association.
“It's a membership organization and there is going to be a networking piece to it no matter what. I wouldn't be totally shocked if you see some organizations that in Pittsburgh, whose employees like to network, join us.”
Businesses looking to register for the association can do so at www.butlercountychamber.com/southern-butler-county-business-association.
