The Community Development Corporation of Butler County received two grants Wednesday to help continue business development in the county.

The Butler County Industrial Development Authority and the Butler County General Authority gave two $25,000 grants to the CDC.

Ken Raybuck, the CDC’s executive director, said the money replaces state funds that has been eliminated because of the state deficit.

Both authorities make money through fees charged for financing, but the organizations’ overhead is low, said Doug Linn, with the Linn Law Group and the solicitor for both authorities.

“So we have saved a substantial amount of money and helping the CDC is a natural use for those funds,” Linn said.

The CDC uses public and private money to attract and develop business and industry. In the past 15 years, the corporation has developed Kriess Road Business Park in Connoquenessing Township and the Victory Road Business Park in Clinton Township. It is now developing the former Pullman-Standard site in Butler.

Both the general authority and the industrial authority are financing bodies, helping business and industry find general loans and low-interest/no-interest loans for distressed businesses. While the groups work on many projects in Western Pennsylvania, they work with businesses across the state, Linn said.

“(Today) we will be working on a project in Scranton,” Linn said.

Brought together by Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton, this is the first time all three groups have gotten together, but not the last.

“We’re looking for any way possible to work together to bring more jobs to the county so we can all prosper,” Pinkerton said.

Linn, Raybuck and Pinkerton said the groups have been talking for almost a year and a half about ways they can work together.

“The CDC is committed to exploring every possible partnership to be of service to businesses looking to grow and prosper in Butler County,” said Jeff Elser, CDC president.

Linn said both authorities would like to see all county development resources “under one tent,” with the CDC helping to serve as a one-stop-shop for developers and businesses who need a place to build and to finance.

“I think the CDC is Butler County’s best kept secret in what it has accomplished and what it can do to continue to bring growth to the community,” Linn said.

“In my mind, giving money to the CDC to promote business and development is the best bang for the buck,” he said.