SAXONBURG — Members of the Saxonburg Area Business Association learned Tuesday how programs at Butler County Community College can help their companies grow from BC3 President Nicholas Neupauer at the association's monthly meeting.

Association President Joseph Black said, "Butler Community College is a huge asset to the community and I think it's under publicized, so I thought it would be good for the owners and some of the employees locally just to learn more about (BC3)."

Neupauer said BC3's Work Force Training programs help graduates become more prepared to enter the work force with hands-on experience and professional training.

"We can work with traditional-aged students, have them get the associates degree and then go directly into the work force, such as manufacturing, robotics, graphic design," Neupauer said.

He said the college has programs for both traditional and nontraditional students and is growing.

"When the economy goes (down), community college enrollment increases," Neupauer said.

Black said training in BC3 classes is great for graduates.

"I think the biggest thing a college can bring to a community is to immediately train someone to do (something)," Black said.

BC3 also helps train professionals and business owners in credit and noncredit courses in areas that can boost their career and business.

"I think that's an excellent program," said Joyce Hutterer, incoming SABA president of BC3. "... anybody wanting to advance themselves has an excellent opportunity with our local college to get their degree or masters."

Business and industry training classes are offered for human resources, retail banking customer service, Microsoft Office, manufacturing, online professionals and economic development networking.

"We've had noncredit offerings for a long time," Neupauer said. "It's certainly grown over the years ... but part of the mission of the community college is both credit and noncredit offers, and we've had this since the beginning in 1965."

Cathleen Wiltrout, who owns The Sign Shop + and Yoma Room in Saxonburg, said, "I think they are very helpful for people who are not used to these new programs and things that are coming out and necessary in the business world today."

The college also has classes in professional education and certificate program training, industrial safety and emergency personal training.

The association's next meeting will be Aug. 11 at Armstrong Farms.