Fourth of July fireworks are back in Butler thanks to an $11,000 donation from Peoples TWP natural gas, Mayor Tom Donaldson said Monday.

Donaldson said Thursday at a joint meeting of the city and Butler Township that the city could not pay for the show. But since then, Peoples TWP agreed to pay for it this year.

“It was with great regret that we decided not to have fireworks, but we just couldn’t afford it,” Donaldson said. “It’s great that the company was able to step up.”

The fireworks are scheduled for after a Butler Blue Sox baseball game at Kelly Automotive Park on July 4, just as it was last year. Zambelli Fireworks again will organize the show.

Peoples TWP said funding the show is an investment in local economic development.

“If you take a look at what these types of activities do, how that increases value in the community, that’s very important,” aid Barry Kukozich, a spokesman with Peoples.

“(The canceled fireworks show) was brought to our attention by one of our employees, Beverly Wogan. She’s very active in the community, and she’s very active on our volunteers committee.

“The healthier our communities are, the healthier we are as a company.”

Donaldson said funding the fireworks each year has been on ongoing issue for the city.