The jobs of the future will have a home in Butler County when a new business park is built in Buffalo Township.

U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, recently presented $339,014 in federal funding to Butler County and Buffalo officials at Freeport Area High School for further development of the Buffalo Township Business Park.

The 50-acre commercial development site, at the intersection of Routes 356 and 28, will be home to technology-based companies.

Local officials hope to stabilize property taxes in the area by providing aspiring entrepreneurs with a supportive environment for starting high-tech companies. Toward this end, Carnegie Mellon University will provide a "business incubator" at the site where experts in science and engineering can come for guidance in starting new businesses involving cutting-edge technologies.

"With this partnership, we'll have a place for ideas to grow," said Mr. Altmire when presenting the check to county and local officials April 14. The presentation also was attended by representatives from local companies Oberg Industries, II-IV, Allegheny Ludlum and Ultra Precision.

Supervisor Dan Przybylek said supervisors and the school board decided six years ago on a plan to attract new businesses to the area in keeping with its rural atmosphere.

"We're working in cooperation with each other to stabilize taxes," he said. "We think we have a great township."

Once completed, the business park is expected provide 800 jobs, attracting new residents, Butler County Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said.

The Butler County Community Development Corp. and Housing Authority are now partnering with the township, Freeport Area School District, Butler County commissioners and Carnegie Mellon. This group will set priorities, along with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, for spending the grant. The partnership also will interview potential developers.

In addition to the grant, tax-increment financing is expected to help pay the $5 million cost of the project.

"Eventually, it works its way out," Mr. Pinkerton said of the tax abatement. As more businesses are built, the property's value increases. The businesses hire workers who buy homes in the area and begin paying taxes, he said.

According to Mr. Przybylek, some of the money will go to traffic studies. The township is working with Olsen and Associates, a Butler planning, engineering and architectural firm, to widen and upgrade Routes 356 and 28, which border the site. With the other partners, they are working with the staff of state Sen. Jane Orie, R-Mc-Candless, to review short- and long-term transportation needs.

Three smaller companies have expressed interest in the business/industrial park, officials said.