Butler is welcoming new businesses at a pace of almost two dozen per year, and a few new business owners in the city spoke Wednesday about why they located downtown and what can be done to bring more businesses there.

Aaron Hicks of Nosh Ice Cream and Sweets, Rick and Jodi Wimer of Element Cafe, and Nick Fazzoni of Butler Brew Works each spoke at a small business forum hosted Wednesday at Butler Downtown's annual meeting.

The event was held at Butler County Ford.

Hicks said low property values and inexpensive rent initially attracted him to the city, where he serves as a Butler Downtown volunteer.

“I wasn't allowed to go anywhere else,” he joked, adding that his business has been “pretty well received” by customers and neighboring businesses.

The Wimers, for whom Element Cafe was the first restaurant opened by their Lawrence County-based JPC Event Group, suggested a guide for business owners seeking to locate in the city, describing taxes and regulations governing businesses, among other items.

“Coming in that would be very useful because there's always some struggling when you open a new venture,” Rick Wimer said.

Jodi Wimer added that initial criticisms of a new business are good because they “help you to grow.”

She added, “I've kind of fallen in love with our location and our customers.”

Rick Wimer said he has failed to find any truth in the misconceptions about downtown, especially comments about questionable safety after the sun sets.

“The community has been great. So many times, I think downtowns have a stigma about them ... of crime or drugs. I just don't see it here,” he said.

Vince Tavolario, whose Natili's Restaurant has been a Main Street staple for 73 years, said he welcomes all of the city's newly-opened eateries.

“It's great to see all these places open up. It makes Main Street more active. People come into Butler from out of town and cannot believe everything we have going on here,” he said.

“That young people are active today in this community is a blessing.”

Fazzoni, co-owner of Butler Brew Works, which is expected to open downtown in spring 2013, said craft beer drinkers will travel to please their palates, but he'd like to see more destination sites downtown so visitors would have more to see and do.

“I really want to see someone take on the Penn Theater,” he said of the dormant venue which is near his planned business.

“We need an entertainment venue on Main Street. That's a staple that needs to be at any destination.”

Other attendees pointed out the numerous events and exhibits regularly occurring at the Associated Artists of Butler County Arts Center.

“I'm not just going to downtown Butler for one thing. I'm going for a lot of things,” said Bob Dandoy, who is vice president of Butler Downtown.

John McCool of Butler Township, a city native, said he would like to see billboards or other advertisements outside the city promoting its attractions.

“There's a lot of positive things about Butler,” he said.

Through the end of October, 24 new businesses have received occupancy permits to operate in Butler in 2012, according to city Treasurer Jeffrey Smith.