As Butler's Revitalization Committee prepares to hire a Main Street manager, the committee and community should take seriously an observation made earlier this month by the deputy director of the Community Development Corporation of Butler County.

The CDC, which has expertise with government programs and grants, has agreed to help the revitalization group in seeking funds to carry on its work, as well as provide other direction and guidance, as requested.

In looking ahead to the assistance her agency will provide, Diane Sheets, the CDC deputy director, said, "There still must be a commitment made by the community for the program."

That's excellent advice. The inability to keep commitment strong led to the demise of the 1980s Main Street Project.

The multi-faceted problems that the city currently faces dictate that the revitalization initiative now in the process of gearing up must not be allowed to experience a similar fate.

Even with a talented and energetic agency such as the CDC involved, success is not guaranteed if commitment on the part of the city government, residents and businesses cannot be built and maintained.

With the city serving as the seat of county government, county leaders also should become - and remain - actively involved in helping the city chart its future.

Back in the '80s, the Main Street Project relied on donations based on the size of downtown businesses. But now there are fewer businesses in the downtown core area, which would make such a revitalization funding mechanism impossible to sustain, even in the short run.

Similar pressures exist regarding manpower needed to keep the revitalization effort moving forward. As Vince Tavolario, chairman of the revitalization committee, has acknowledged, his group nearly went out of existence because many of the people initially involved found that they didn't have enough free time available to devote to the effort.

The committee began as a large group of city business owners, community leaders and influential residents who were asked to serve by Mayor Leonard Pintell and the city council. Now, based on what has transpired in terms of manpower, the committee has evolved into a mind-set geared toward about a nine-member board leading the effort, with others being encouraged to remain active as their time permits.

The Main Street manager who will be hired will implement directives emanating from the board.

The organizational approach being discussed is reasonable and workable. However, Sheets' message about maintaining a strong spirit of commitment must remain at the forefront.

Without commitment and an abundant amount of stubborn determination, "revitalization" will remain an exciting word but little else.

- J.R.K.