JEFFERSON TWP — Butler County will be in the spotlight of national politics Wednesday as former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is expected to announce plans for a Republican presidential campaign.

Santorum will have a “special event” at Penn United Technologies on North Pike Road at 5 p.m.

Bill Jones, president of Penn United, said the manufacturing plant has been preparing for the big announcement and the hundreds of people expected to attend.

“Obviously we've cleaned up the facility to make sure we can handle the crews and people,” he said, adding he expects 400 to 500 people to fill the room where Santorum will speak.

That room is in a stamping site off the main plant building, Jones said.

Santorum was born in Virginia but lived in Butler for 10 years during his youth while his parents worked at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Butler Township.

Santorum, who was a U.S. senator from 1995 to 2007, ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, and surprised many by winning the leadoff Iowa caucuses. But his strong support among social conservatives was eventually no match for the organization and fundraising prowess of eventual GOP nominee Mitt Romney.

Santorum won 11 state primaries before he announced the suspension of his campaign that year.

Jones said Penn United was selected as the site for the announcement for numerous reasons, including the feasibility of hosting such a large event.

“We're one of the larger facilities in the county,” he said.

Jones said Santorum wanted a manufacturing plant to complement topics on which he intends to speak.

“He's excited to speak to our employees and the community at large,” Jones said.

The county sheriff's office will provide security. Its services will be paid for by the Santorum campaign.

Sheriff Mike Slupe said his office will have about 10 deputies in uniform and others in plain clothes.

“They asked for our assistance, and with approval from the commissioners, we entered into a contract with (Santorum's committee),” Slupe said. “We'll provide traffic control and be present to help make the event a safe and successful one.”

Slupe said it is not common for the county to provide that many deputies for a single event.

“This is a pretty big deal for the county,” Slupe said.

Ed Natali, chairman of the county Republican Committee, agreed about the significance of the event.

“It's a great honor for Butler County to have someone who spent his formative years here make such a major announcement,” he said.

Natali said the committee is not endorsing a presidential candidate, but said it is supporting Santorum's event at Penn United.

“His team is leading the effort,” Natali said. “We are supporting him in organizing the event.”

Natali said the committee is contacting businesses and Republicans to promote it.

“We want to bring a big crowd to support him,” he said.

Natali said Penn United is a fitting site for the announcement.

“It's a manufacturing environment,” he said. “That's what he'll be talking about — blue collar jobs. These are good paying jobs that support families.”

John Cypher, chairman of the township supervisors, said the township has no involvement in the announcement.

“We haven't had any official talks about it at any meetings,” he said.

But that doesn't mean township officials haven't heard people talking about it.

“There's certainly interest,” he said.

There's also strong interest for those who grew up with Santorum.

“He sat right next to me at Butler Catholic School, which was called St. Paul at the time,” said Jim Chiprean, owner of Miller's Shoes in Butler. “He was a very good student. And he was also very athletic back in the day.”

Chiprean said he went to school with Santorum from second grade to high school.

“I was the first one to shake his hand after he became a senator,” he said.

Chiprean said he's happy to see Santorum return to the county to make his announcement.

“I'm glad he calls Butler his hometown,” he said.

Jones said Penn United will remain open Wednesday, although the company had to restrict a few shifts.

“We're inviting the workforce to come back at 5 p.m. and enjoy the event,” Jones added.

Jones said Santorum spoke at Penn United in 1994 when he was campaigning for the Senate.

He said he is happy to see him return to the plant.

“Absolutely, this is exciting stuff,” he said.