Butler’s annual Jeep festival is in the books for 2016, but The Friends of the Bantam Jeep Association is looking to give away up to $20,000 to nonprofit and civic organizations,

“We are proud that the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival has become such an important event,” said Rodney Schaffer, president of the association. “We are pleased that the event benefits local businesses, and will now support local nonprofit and civic groups in a way that hasn’t been done before.”

Schaffer said the event has an economic impact of about $1.7 million in Butler County, and that the group wants to pass some of that success along to other organizations.

The association said nonprofit and civic organizations in the county can apply to receive a donation. Interested organizations should write a letter explaining how they benefit the county and how a donation would be used. The letters cannot exceed 500 words and should be e-mailed to Info@bantam.org. They must be received by Aug. 30.

Members of the group said it has always been their plan to repay the festival’s success.

“When our organization was formed last fall ... our board of directors felt very strongly that a portion of the festival proceeds needed to support Butler County’s nonprofit and civic organizations,” said Schaffer.

He said the donations will be determined based on how many groups apply and how much need is demonstrated. Board members will determine the amounts received by the organizations.

He said that at least one donation of $3,000 would be made, using funds raised from festival attendees who bought items from Omix-ADA at the festival. The company sold items to raise funds for a county organization.

The recipient of that gift will be announced along with any other recipients in late September.

The association was formed in October 2015 and has more than 50 volunteers.

This year was its first season organizing the annual festival, which attracts more than 2,000 Jeeps each June and celebrates Butler’s history as the birthplace of the Jeep.