There’s never been a more exciting time than right now for the business climate in Butler County. That’s one reason why, now more than ever, the Butler Eagle is proud to present the 2014 Progress edition with today’s newspaper.

Inside you’ll find six sections, each with detailed reports about a different segment of our county’s business community.

Some of the sections, like health care and education, cover mainstays of our economy. That doesn’t mean these segments are stagnant or even static. Health care is being reformed nationwide, thanks to President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act initiative, better known as Obamacare; and Butler Health System is making strides to stay ahead of the curve. Ambulance companies are fighting to stay ahead of changes, too — and they’re battling for survival in a highly competitive market.

Slippery Rock University is celebrating its 125th anniversary amid economic pressures that will force changes. Butler County Community College, which turns 50 next year, is undergoing several expansions and renovations to prepare the campus for its next half-century.

Other sections cover new facets of business, like the proliferation of natural gas wells tapping into the Marcellus Shale formation, deploying new techniques to harvest the vital energy source. The industry produced 182 billion cubic feet of gas in 2008; today, it’s producing 5 trillion cubic feet per year generating millions of dollars in payroll, lease payments, impact fees — and 230,000 new jobs in Pennsylvania since 2008.

It’s an exciting time for downtown Butler, too. Preliminary work has begun on the Centre City project, a complex to include a hotel, retail center and parking garage, all of which are likely to anchor the business district for many years to come.

Tourist promotion is another emerging business sector. With several successful events to its credit in 2013, including the Heritage Jeep Festival and Pyrotechnics Guild convention, the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau continues to expand its repertoire and offerings. The consruction of at least three new hotels testify to the growth of tourism in the county.

Finally, a section dedicated to industry presents some new twists to an old economic mainstay. They include On The Edge, a precision sheet-metal fabricator, which has invested heavily in high-tech equipment including a laser-cutting machine and computer-numerical controlled cutters.

All are good reasons to celebrate good things happening in the county’s business community. The Butler Eagle is proud to present their stories in this annual edition.