JEFFERSON TWP — Penn United Technologies and Butler County played host to a unique event Wednesday afternoon as residents, media and political activists gathered to hear Rick Santorum announce his campaign for president.

Several hundred people came to watch the announcement and show their support for Santorum who will vie for the Republican nomination in the primaries and caucuses next year.

He was a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania from 1995 to 2007. He ran for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.

Santorum won 11 state primaries before he suspended his campaign that year.

He was joined by his family and those volunteering with his campaign who came from 33 states to show their support.

CNN, MSNBC and C-SPAN were among the national news outlets at the event. Earlier in the day ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos recorded a sit-down interview with Santorum at Penn United.

Several people in attendance said the plant near Butler where Santorum spent much of his youth was a fitting place for the announcement.

Pat Stirling of Lancaster Township said that the announcement showed Santorum coming back to his roots and his support for small businesses.

“Rick Santorum represents values that have made Butler County strong. He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk. He supports the everyman,” Stirling said.

Santorum has plenty of support in the region, said Rick McDeavitt of Lyndora.

“He’s from the area, and Western Pennsylvania is a pretty conservative area, so it makes sense,” he said.

Davonna Clyde of Sarver brought her three young daughters to show their support for Santorum’s campaign.

“We really like Rick Santorum. He’s pro-life, he’s a family man, he stands for our values,” Clyde said.

Bob Boice of Prospect said he met Santorum and his family when they stopped to feed his pet llamas at the Butler Farm Show while on the campaign trail in 2012.

“I was rooting for him the last time he ran,” he said.

Boice said Santorum also would be a good candidate for vice president, if he doesn’t win the GOP nomination.

Sara Muir, a Butler resident and an administrative assistant at Penn United, said that she and her family were there to support both the company and Santorum.

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s a part of history,” Muir said.

About an hour before Santorum came out to speak, Penn United President Bill Jones went on stage to welcome the crowd.

Penn United, with its 580 workers, is an employee-owned manufacturer of precision metal products for the energy, oil and gas, medical and automotive industries, among others.

“This is a chance not only to showcase Penn United, but to showcase Butler County and Western Pennsylvania,” he said.

Penn United Training Coordinator Terry Covert said the a number of employees worked with Santorum’s campaign to coordinate and prepare for the event.

The factory ended its day early at 2 p.m. so that it would have more room for parking and so employees could attend the announcement if they chose.

The room where the program was held is usually a shipping area, but was cleared of all equipment to accommodate the crowd. The announcement was likely the biggest public event the company has hosted, Covert said.

“We really wanted to do it right. This is a chance to get national exposure and shine a great light on a great company,” he added.

County Sheriff Mike Slupe and about 10 deputies provided security for the event including controlling traffic flow on North Pike Road and inside the venue, where guests had to go through a metal detector to enter.

Both Santorum and campaign manager Terry Allen thanked Penn United for being a gracious host.

“Thank you to Penn United. We have disrupted this place for the entire week,” Santorum said.