BUTLER TWP — U.S. Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper, D-3rd, met with business leaders, and educators and trainers from Butler and Armstrong counties Tuesday to gauge what businesses and manufacturers need to prosper during this period of economic problems.

"I got into this so if our children want to stay in the area they can find jobs here instead of having to move away," Dahlkemper said at the meeting at the township building.

She highlighted areas that can be organized or reorganized for growth, including incubating new businesses. These areas are:

• Energy innovation with Western Pennsylvania having energy resources including coal, oil, wind, natural gas and now Westinghouse Electric's international headquarters, which is focused on nuclear power.

• Advanced manufacturing, such as Sonneborne, a world leader in white oil production, and robotics with classes at Butler County Community College as two examples.

• Logistics and transportation, including Interstates 79 and 80, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Lake Erie and the Allegheny River.

• Federal contracts, many of which are Department of Defense contracts, as well as more than 900 employees of USIS in Boyers, which does background checks for government employment.

• Education and workforce development, teaching new skills for new jobs, such as those connected with the drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale.

The group of about 15 business representatives discussed needs that businesses have in the region, how to address those needs and where to get help.

Dahlkemper said she would use the information from the group to work for jobs and training in the region.