BUTLER TWP— Butler County Community College wants to stretch its tentacles into Erie County.

College President Nick Neupauer said he has sent a letter to the county's executive, Mark DiVecchio, stating its interest in opening a campus in that county 100 miles north of Butler.

Interest in putting a campus in the county has been mentioned during the past several years by college officials. This letter formalizes that interest, Neupauer said.

"We're ready to take the next step," he said.

DiVecchio has been cited in Erie newspaper accounts as looking to put a community college in the area to train workers. Neupauer said he met with DiVecchio about a month ago to talk about what community colleges do.

BC3 trustee Dr. William DiCuccio at Wednesday's meeting suggested several ways the college could cater to the Erie market. For example, he said, he learned of a college in New York that used an airport to start an airplane mechanic school.

BC3 is the closest community college to Erie.

In addition to its main campus off Route 8 south of Butler, the college offers classes in Cranberry Township, Lawrence County and in Mercer County.

The college has 3,500 students and a $21.3 million budget.