During their Wednesday meeting, county commissioners approved the second round of grants to municipalities that incurred expenses related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Grants of various amounts totaling about $4 million were allocated to 32 municipalities in the county.

The commissioners in September allocated $3.9 million to 24 boroughs and townships.

Butler and the townships of Butler, Cranberry and Adams were the larger municipalities on the list to receive grants in Wednesday's allotment, along with their smaller counterparts such as Cherry and Concord townships and Valencia borough.

Of the $16.9 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding received by the county, $8 million was earmarked for municipalities with eligible expenses.

Wednesday's allocations represented the final grants, as the funds are required to be depleted by the end of December.

The commissioners said no municipalities with eligible pandemic expenses were turned down for a grant.

Mark Gordon, the county chief of economic development and planning, said the entire $16.9 million in county CARES funding was carefully allocated to cast the widest possible net of assistance to all four corners of Butler County.

“I think the bottom line was that unlike some areas that just took the money and kept it for themselves, we've taken $16.9 million and found the best possible ways to get it out into the community,” Gordon said.

He said that spirit of neighbor helping neighbor has spread, as Zelienople used its CARES grant to give gift certificates to residents, while Clay Township gave the $10,000 remaining in their county CARES grant to the Moniteau School District Scholarship Foundation.

Gordon credited the businesses, nonprofits, municipalities and citizens with continuing to help one another as the pandemic grinds on.

“In spite of this pandemic, Butler County is made up of people taking care of each other,” he said.