Christmas came early this year for two Butler County communities and two organizations.

More than $2 million in grant money is headed to Jackson Township, Cherry Township, Butler AM Rotary and Community Partnership.

In Jackson Township, officials say a $1.2 million state grant to implement road safety measures along Route 19 will boost retail activity in the township’s commercial areas.

Cherry Township received a $1 million state grant to completely rebuild Harrisville Road and make it safe for traffic. A local match will allocate a total of $1.1 million toward the project.

Butler AM Rotary will receive $30,000 from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, which is managed by the PNC Foundation, toward the second phase of the club’s Butler Memorial Park Playground project, which includes installation of equipment.

On a smaller scale, Community Partnership received $2,500 through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Urban Agriculture Infrastructure Grant Program to implement Seeds to Supper — a comprehensive, six-week beginning gardening course that gives novice, adult gardeners the tools they need to successfully grow a portion of their own food on a limited budget.

Seeds to Supper will partner with Penn State Extension’s Master Gardener and Nutrition Education programs and will be taught by a volunteer educator who is both a Master Nutrition Educator volunteer and a Master Gardener.

In tough economic times, we commend those who seek out grant money to improve their municipalities, organizations and communities.

It takes a little time and effort, but grants are out there if governmental bodies and groups are willing to make the effort to obtain them.

— JGG