HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission has approved a West Penn Power Co. transmission line to service AK Steel's new electric arc furnace.

West Penn Power will build a 435-foot, 138-kilovolt transmission line in Butler Township in an AK Steel easement at the cost of $566,000, to be paid for by AK Steel.

Construction will begin in February and should be done by July.

BUTLER TWP — The Paul Laurence Dunbar Community Center has been named a Champion of Action award winner by Citizens Bank.The bank has awarded the Dunbar center staff with a check for $25,000 from the Citizens Bank Foundation.Ralph Papa, bank chairman, said the Dunbar center was picked because of its promotion of the "mental, moral, spiritual and physical welfare of the community and strives to encourage better relationships between diverse backgrounds."

EVANS CITY — NexTier Bank has donated $15,000 for 29 scholarships to the 2009 Pennsylvania Free Enterprise Week program.The scholarships are for high school sophomores and juniors in Butler County, northern Allegheny County and Armstrong County.School districts award these scholarships to students who show interest in furthering their education and building leadership skills. Schools should contact Michelle Warofka, schools manager for the Enterprise Week program, at 814.833.9576, Ext. 31 or michelle@pfew.org.Each scholarship, valued at $525, funds a student for one of five weeks on the campuses of Lycoming College or the Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport in the summer.Students learn about business and the free enterprise system, plus topics such as international trade, business ethics, pricing and profitability, finance, banking, and labor.In 2009, more than 700 businesses and civic organizations across the state will support the program, which is expected to have more than 1,600 young people.

NORTH BUFFALO TWP, Armstrong County — Buffalo Valley Ltd., a Snyder Associated Companies affiliate, has bought 500 acres from the Graff family for $1.4 million.The land is the former Graff farm on Route 422 west of the Worthington Bridge. Snyder has been removing limestone from both sides of Route 422 since 1985 under an agreement with the family.The limestone is used to make cement by Armstrong Cement Supply in Winfield Township, over the hill from the Graff land.

GIBSONIA, AlleghenyCounty — The board of trustees for The Village at St. Barnabas, a 252-unit apartment complex for independent retirees, has been re-elected.They are: chairwoman Kathleen Seaton of Pine Township; president Douglas Day of Richland Township; and treasurer Richard Kaminsky of Peters Township.

HARRISBURG — Small businesses needing help to reduce energy costs and pollution can apply for state grants of up to $25,000 for projects.The Small Business Energy Efficiency Grant Program helps businesses implement projects that save at least 20 percent and $1,000 in annual energy costs.The program provides a 25 percent matching grant of up to $25,000 toward energy efficiency improvements in lighting, heating, cooling, refrigeration and process machinery, building insulation and weatherization.Deadline for applications is May 1 and can be found at 222.depweb.state.pa.us, keywords — small business energy efficiency grant program, or by calling 717-783-8411.

Butler Memorial Hospital's Stroke Program has been awarded a gold performance achievement award from the American Stroke Association.Thirteen hospitals in the state have achieved the award, with Butler Memorial being one of three in Western Pennsylvania.The hospital's program consists of rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients in the emergency department.