Department of Energy and Small Business Administration make agreement in Lackawanna County to help small businesses in the energy field

SOUTH ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — A signed strategic partnership to advance the American energy dominance agenda came to fruition earlier today in Lackawanna County. The partnership says it will help channel investment toward the small businesses needed to expand reliable, affordable American energy.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler signed a memorandum of agreement between the two departments geared at giving more capital to what they called the heartbeat of America: small businesses.

The signing took place during a visit to Creative Design & Machining, Inc, in South Abington Township.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of opportunities for career growth” says Layne Crothers, president of Creative Design & Machining, Inc.

Crothers believes the funding that would go to small businesses in the energy space could bring a major boost to business in Northeast PA.

“We see it here, there is growth, the manufacturing is coming back, and I think it will continue to, we just need to strengthen our workforce and I think there is a lot of growth opportunities in manufacturing here in Pennsylvania for sure” says Crothers.

The business makes component parts used in the energy industry. The goal of the agreement is to make capitol cheaper for small businesses that work in the energy field.

“They’re not subsidies; this is just capital to allow successful businesses to grow faster than they already would,” says Secretary Wright.

“We’re going to be able to, thanks to this agreement, speed more capital, private capital, investment capital, into small businesses,” says Administrator Loeffler.

The collaboration between the two departments means an effort to increase production of energy locally in the United States.

“This is a way to flow more capital so we can more quickly become less dependent on adversaries for materials that we need,” says Secretary Wright.
 
In the long run, Crothers hopes the agreement will lead to Pennsylvania businesses having a stronger workforce.

“I think there’s going to be more opportunities for good-paying jobs, good benefits, and healthcare, and strengthen our overall community,” says Crothers.

Officials also say that Pennsylvania is a cornerstone state in the energy field, and the end goal is to invest in states that are energy-rich.