Just over a year into Butler Downtown’s three-year capital campaign to raise $500,000, the group has raised more than $122,000 for its operation after state funds expire in 2014.

The Butler Has It All Special Gift Campaign was introduced at Butler Downtown’s 2011 annual meeting by which time the campaign already had gotten about $107,000 in pledges and gifts.

“In 2011, there was an aggressive effort by volunteers to solicit those funds. In 2012, those efforts were not as aggressive, but we still received $15,490 in pledges and gifts,” said Chelynne Curci, Butler’s Main Street manager.

“At our September (Butler Downtown) board meeting, our board agreed to set a challenge among themselves to raise $1,000 by the next board meeting in November.

For incentive, a board member offered to match that amount if we met the goal.”

Board members, using an e-mail campaign between about Oct. 1 and the group’s Nov. 7 meeting, raised $1,370, combining with the anonymous member’s donation for $2,370 total.

“That was a really good exercise to kind of prove to themselves that ‘this isn’t that hard,’” Curci said.

“I know we are capable of doing more, and our next goal will be to approach some of the business owners downtown.”

Curci added that the first group of pledges came from bigger companies, and Butler Downtown will seek something more “reasonable” from the smaller downtown businesses.

The money raised ensures Butler Downtown’s continued operation as state grants have funded the group since 2008-09, but state money only will continue through 2012-13.

Because the state budget runs from July through June, and Butler Downtown’s budget operates by calendar year, 2013 will mark the fifth and final year of state funding for the program.

That annual state funding is about $70,000, with $40,000 for operations, mostly for the Main Street manager’s salary and benefits, and $30,000 for facade improvements.

In 2014, Butler Downtown will receive a closeout grant of about $65,000 to help wean the program off state funding. After that, there are no other state grants for the group’s administrative costs, but grants for facade work still will be available.

Butler Downtown’s fundraising efforts continue year-round through programs and events, including the West New Castle Street public plaza, which is featured on the group’s annual Christmas ornament for 2012.

“Things like that, the proceeds go right back into projects we are doing,” said Curci of the ornaments, which are produced at Gateway China in Lyndora.

They are available online at www.butlerdowntown.org.