Butler Downtown looks to remain a presence despite a loss of state funding.

The nonprofit group on Wednesday had its first board meeting since firing its Main Street manager last month, opting to reorganize as a strictly volunteer organization.

Meredith Glendening, who took over as president of the board this year, said the organization expects to continue its summer concert series at the West New Castle Street Plaza and hopes to hold its second annual Up on the Roof fundraising event as well.

Glendening said while the organization will scale back, it still expects to be active.

“The organization will continue with its mission of promoting downtown,” Glendening said. “The board and I feel confident about that.”

She is the marketing coordinator for Heritage Elder Law & Estate Planning in Butler.

Butler Downtown had been enrolled in a five-year state program that provided funding of about $40,000 for administrative costs and $30,000 for facade improvement grants for businesses. That funding expired at the end of 2014, reducing the nonprofit’s expense budget from about $102,000 in 2014 to about $29,500 this year.

About a third of the expenses are dedicated to the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, which handles the administration of the nonprofit, and for auditing services.

Much of the state funding went to pay the salary of Chelynne Curci-Lang, who was the group’s manager. Her position was terminated in December.

While the nonprofit has no full-time manager, it still expects to maintain its two signature events.

Members of the board hope to meet with city officials by the end of the month to discuss the West New Castle Street Plaza. Glendening said it is unlikely Butler Downtown will hold 13 concerts there as it has in the past, but it expects to continue holding plaza events.

Board member Bob Dandoy said, “It’s a lot of work to do 13 concerts. We don’t have that manpower as a volunteer organization.”

The city and the nonprofit had disagreements last year on whether alcohol should be permitted at the plaza during the concerts. Glendening said she believes Mayor Tom Donaldson is open to discussing the alcohol restriction.

“We believe it’s something that is still on the table,” she said.

Donaldson could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Glendening said the Up on the Roof fundraising event last year was a success. That was a party at the top of the tier parking garage on West Cunningham Street, which coincided with the Butler BlueSox baseball team’s Independence Day fireworks display.

“We had great feedback on that, and it did make us a little money, so we’ll try to continue that this year,” she said.

While the group’s state grant expired last year, the board hopes it can receive some money from the state for facade work this year.

“We’re working to figure out if we’re eligible for part of an exit grant,” Glendening said.

The organization has in the past offered $5,000 grants to businesses in downtown for facade work. Glendening said there were multiple businesses interested in the grants.

The board is unsure if it must have a Main Street manager to receive that part of the exit grant.

The loss of funding stemming from the expired state program greatly reduced the money available for 2015, but Glendening said the organization also has cut expenditures.

“We’re hoping everything balances out,” Glendening said. “There will definitely be struggles, but we’re bringing a whole new mindset and looking for other opportunities for fundraising and other events.”