Many agencies have a role in helping Butler County maintain a strong work force.

But few can claim as big an impact as the Community Development Corporation of Butler County.

The CDC, which was founded in 1959, continues to stand as the leader in attracting business and industry.

“We work with private industry and government agencies to create and bring more jobs to Butler County,” said Ken Raybuck, executive director.

The agency helps with assistance in site selection and development, financing and the general coordination and collaboration with community leaders.

This concept of the agency is not unique to the county.

“Every county has some sort of economic development agency,” Raybuck said.

But what the CDC is able to do for its home county separates it as a leader in development.

Since 1999, the CDC has helped create more than 6,300 jobs and bring in more than $100 million in capital investment.

The agency's success over that time has come from the development of more than 500 acres of business parks, much of which previously was vacant space.

“We're the only agency whose sole purpose is to help grow industry,” Raybuck said.

The CDC continued to attract industry in 2013, bringing in an Allegheny County manufacturer to the Victory Road Business Park in Clinton Township.

M.B.K. bought 7.4 acres, which will be home for the Kerry Co. to produce its actuator used in the steel, mining and nuclear power industries.

The manufacturer will become part of what has been perhaps the CDC's biggest success over the years.

The redevelopment of the 425-acre site, formerly the USX sintering plant, began just before the turn of the century.

Fifteen businesses now call the park home or have regional offices there, including Brayman Construction, Cygnus Manufacturing, Bayer HealthCare and Aldi.

The redevelopment of the park has been good for the rest of the county, as the property taxes have grown substantially from the $65,000 it produced in 1999.

“Taxes there were waived for 10 years, but now it is generating close to $1 million in taxes,” Raybuck said.

Those tax dollars go to the county, Clinton Township and the South Butler School District.

But Victory Road isn't the only business park the CDC has helped develop.

The Pullman Center Business Park also has 15 businesses owning or leasing property. In 2013, the CDC sold more than 30,000 square feet of space to the expanding Johnstone Supply.

The CDC also has developed the Kriess Road Business Park in Connoquenessing Township, which generates more than $260,000 in tax revenues each year, and the Jackson Township Business Park.

An agency main goal for the upcoming year is to continue marketing the remaining space in its parks.

The CDC has 30 acres still available at the Pullman site and 60 acres at Victory Road.

The CDC's 32 member board helps manage the agency and represents its 150 members.

“We have a cross section of leaders from around the county,” Raybuck said of the board. “We really value the support of our board and our member expertise.”

Raybuck said the agency tries to keep the board as diverse as the county it represents.

“Geographically we try to cover all parts of the county,” he said, adding it is made up of representatives from a variety of businesses and organizations.

The agency also depends heavily on the help of other governmental agencies.

“We couldn't accomplish what we do without help from the state,” Raybuck said.

The CDC receives about $18,000 from the state each year.

But aside from money made selling and leasing its property, the agency gets most of its funds from membership dues that bring in about $55,000.

With limited money available, it is important for the CDC to have close relationships with other agencies, like the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau, which provides a marketing employee to the CDC.

“We work very closely with other organizations,” Raybuck said.

The CDC will host its annual meeting on Friday. About 250 members and guests are expected to attend, while motivational speaker Steve Gilliland, a Butler County native, will be the keynote speaker.

<b>Address: </b>111 Woody Drive, Butler<b>Website: </b>www.butlercountycdc.com<b>Executive director:</b> Ken Raybuck<b>Employees:</b> 5<b>Mission: </b>To be the lead economic development organization in Butler County by creating an environment that attracts and retains businesses.