Butler County is selling the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to a New Jersey company for $20.4 million.

The county commissioners this morning approved the sale to Investment 360 of Lakewood, N.J.

The vote was 2 to 1. Commissioners Bill McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton supported the sale.

McCarrier said it’s too difficult for small nursing homes to exist due to finances and health care regulations.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein opposed the sale, saying the county should retain ownership.

However, all three commissioners said Investment 360 was the best choice out of the eight companies that offered to buy Sunnyview.

A closing date has not been set. The county will continue operating Sunnyview until then.

Bruce Peckman, a managing partner in the firm, said the company would meet with SEIU Healthcare, which represents roughly 200 union workers at Sunnyview.

Investment 360 operates 17 health care facilities in six states.