Building in Butler County is booming this decade.

That may not be readily apparent to some because it is spread out across the county.

But since 2000, dozens of new construction projects have been completed, and there continues to be many more of these economic investments in the county.

This annual Progress section, titled Building For the Future, showcases many of the major projects that have been done and will be finished by 2010.

Currently a huge $100 million-plus residential hall project is under way at Slippery Rock University. Butler County itself is building a new $40 million-plus prison along with a new emergency management center.

The state is pouring millions into the area with massive new bridges in Butler and East Brady.

It also completed the $44 million Cranberry Connector road project in Cranberry Township.

Businesses too have invested millions in the past five years and they continue to do so.

Significant housing plans are scattered across the county from Buffalo and Cranberry townships to the Slippery Rock area and even Forward Township.

New buildings were erected in several business parks and renovations and expansions have occurred at the Cranberry Mall and Clearview Mall in Center Township.

This annual section shows how much the county has grown economically since 2000 and how much it will keep growing until the end of the decade.