Butler County commissioners award manufacturing grants
Butler County commissioners awarded $150,000 in Butler County Manufacturing Readiness Grants to 13 businesses Wednesday, Jan. 29.
The county worked with business consulting firm Catalyst Connection to distribute the money from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the county, Mark Gordon, county chief of economic development and planning, said.
For every dollar the county provided, $17.65 of economic impact comes back to the county, Gordon said.
“Go forth and make more stuff,” said Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman.
The awards ranged from $7,500 to $15,000 to cover “soft costs” associated with technology projects designed to improve or increase production, and the county provided awards ranging from $55,000 to $600,000 for their projects.
Harmony Castings invested $600,000 and received a $15,000 award to implement a nondestructive testing program to increase product quality and reduce scrap rates.
Keystone Ridge Designs, of Butler, invested $300,000 and received a $15,000 award for a robotic grinding project to decrease costs and increase revenue potential.
JADCO Manufacturing, of Harmony, invested $275,878 and received a $15,000 award for a digital integration project to streamline operations.
Berry Metal, of Harmony, invested $268,000 and received a $15,000 award to implement a robotic welding center to increase production.
Belleville International, of Butler invested $250,000 and was awarded $15,000 to purchase an automated presetting table.
Eagle Printing Company, of Butler, invested $165,000 and was awarded $10,500 to install an automated quality inspection for the web press to limit scrap rates of printed materials.
Chick Machine, of Butler, invested $150,000 and was awarded $10,500 for an automated polishing cell to increase efficiency and serve current and prospective aerospace customers.
Heskins, of East Butler, invested $150,00 and was awarded $10,500 to install an automated precision cutting system to increase efficiency and reduce scrap.
The Conair Group, of Cranberry Township, invested $125,000 and was awarded $10,500 for an artificial intelligence report engine to manage data from different sources and increase revenue.
Du-Co Ceramics, of Saxonburg, invested $110,000 and was awarded $10,500 to install automated box assembly and feeding to increase efficiency.
Butler Technologies, of Butler, invested $78,000 and was awarded $7,500 for a technology sales enabling project to increase efficiency.
MECCO, of Cranberry Township, invested $65,000 and was awarded $7,500 for an integration project that will shorten the sales cycle and expedite the quoting and engineering process.
Associated Ceramics and Technology, of Sarver, invested $55,000 and was awarded $7,500 for a powder testing center integration to develop new product lines for new markets.
In other business, the commissioners approved a contract with the state for a $750,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant the Butler Health System is using to expand its behavioral health program at Butler Memorial Hospital, which is now part of Independence Health System.
The county served as a conduit for the grant, which the hospital is using to add beds and improve the heating and air conditioning system.
