The governor of Pennsylvania doesn't ride into a county handing out millions of dollars without much prior work having been done on the local level justifying that dramatic moment.

So it was regarding the $5.5 million Gov. Ed Rendell delivered to Butler County on Sunday for four worthy projects. Officials here, over many months, devoted their energies to preparing documents and meeting with officials in the state capital in order to make the county's case for the money. As important as that was the support of members of the county's legislative delegation.

But no doubt weighing on the state's decision to send the money here was the successes already recorded by the Community Development Corporation of Butler County in bringing new businesses to the county and helping to keep existing enterprises within the county's borders. Rendell, as well as other officials in the state government with whom the CDC communicated as part of the application process, knew that if Butler County was awarded the money, the funds would be in good hands - that the optimum good would be achieved.

It can be said with utmost confidence that the state will not be disappointed.

Meanwhile, the money is indicative of bipartisan cooperation on the part of the governor. Rendell, a Democrat, opted for allocating the money in question based on worthiness of the projects, not on whether the projects would be in Democratic territory.

Butler County, where Republicans have the voter-registration lead, gave the majority of its votes to Rendell's opponent in the 2002 general election. But Rendell enjoys significant support here nonetheless.

Of the $5.5 million, $1.5 million will help the CDC convert 35 acres at the former Trinity Industries site into 10 or more building sites for light manufacturing or office space. A total of $1 million is targeted for the Shearer Road Business Park in Butler Township, and another $1 million will go to the Slippery Rock Technology Park to construct a facility for high-tech research and business opportunities.

In addition, II-VI in Clinton Township will get $1.5 million to assist the company in its expansion and addition of as many as 300 workers. II-VI is a global leader in the manufacturing of optical components used in laser technology.

A total of 750 new jobs are envisioned as a result of the four projects.

Sunday was a great day for Butler County, and hopefully there will be additional days like it as the county's efforts move forward.

Sunday proved that this county can compete successfully for state money if it has the vision to correctly identify its needs and the determination to assemble proposals that are hard for state officials to put aside.

The CDC and all others who were instrumental in bringing the money here are owed a debt of gratitude for pooling their efforts on these projects' behalf.

- J.R.K.