CRANBERRY TWP — Those attending the second Home & Community Expo will have the opportunity to visit more than 40 exhibitors representing businesses, nonprofits, government and social service agencies serving southern Butler County.

The event will run from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the Cranberry Township Municipal Center gymnasium and senior/teen center, 2525 Rochester Road.

The expo is a joint project of the township and the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.

Admission is free to anyone looking for housing and community services information, said Perry O'Malley, executive director of the authority.

"Cranberry is a very forward thinking community. They wanted to provide information on some of the county programs that are available," he said.

"Last year's event was successful, and Cranberry officials were pleased with its response and co-sponsored it again this year."

O'Malley said some people believe the authority only works with low-income families looking for housing. But the authority has in the past five years been able to help more than 300 people buy their first homes, he said.

Jerry Andree, the township manager who also serves on the authority's board of directors, believes the authority offers a lot.

That's why the township is working with the housing authority.

"We are pleased to partner with the Butler County Housing Authority in promoting the services the authority has to offer the residents of Butler County," Andree said. "There is a misconception that the authority only provides residential living facilities, when in fact they provide housing assistance in many other forms, from mortgage counseling to funding to install handicapped accessibility."

Initially conceived as a way to tell residents about the variety of services available from the housing authority and other Butler County agencies, the event has expanded to include a wide range of home, career, health and community-building services available from other sources.

O'Malley said the expo gives Cranberry residents and those in the surrounding communities a way to find out about the authority's various programs. That includes foreclosure counseling, home loss prevention and other health and human service programs.

Some of the categories represented are public agencies, educational institutions, financial services, health-related organizations, real estate service companies and home improvement contractors.

A series of informative seminars will be held throughout the event.

Topics will include:

n health care options

• home financing

• taxes

• commuting options

• home improvement.

"This is only the second year hosting this event, and we hope the word continues to spread of the extent of services available to our community through this county agency," Andree said.

"In addition, local vendors will be present to present their service and products to local homeowners and future homeowners.

"So, if you are a resident looking to pursue home improvements, behind in mortgage payments and looking for possible solutions, have accessibility issues, thinking about applying to live in one of the authority's facilities, such as Rolling Road Regency Apartments, have unique circumstances that are preventing you from making needed home improvements, this is the event to attend," Andree said.

The following vendors are slated to appear at the Home & Community Expo:• Dollar Bank• Placement With A Heart• First Commonwealth Bank• Pittsburgh Central Federal Credit Union• LIFE Butler County• Upper Cervical Health Centers of America• Complete Chiropractic Health• Allegheny Health and Rehab Center• Home Helpers/North Hills Medical Supply• American Window Industries/Premier Kitchen & Bath• Commute Info• Leaf Filter North of PA• Mental Health Association• Preferred Restoration• Health America Advantra• Finn Chiropractic• Butler County Community College• Baltimore Life Company• Career Link• Housing Authority of the County of Butler• Cranberry Township• Cranberry Plan• Cranberry Ambulance and Fire Co.• Cranberry Public Library• Public Works Pre-Treatment• Blakeley Tile and Marble• Butler County Area Agency on Aging• Remax Select Realty• Center for Community Resources• Wells Fargo Home Mortgage• United Way of Butler County• Liberty Mutual Group• Home Depot• Ridge Insurance Agency• Radon Control Services• HouseMaster• General Rental• Hayden Satellite• Better Living Patio Rooms• Booksmarts Tax and Accounting• Kask Mortgage Group