SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — A new agreement between two federal agencies gives energy- and tech-focused small businesses access to funds to grow and help the country’s energy sector.
Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, formally signed a memorandum of agreement establishing the Small Business Investment Company-Energy Initiative on Monday afternoon at Creative Design and Machining Inc.
Under the initiative, small businesses involved in energy or technology production can get access to capital from private investment funds. The agreement channels investment toward small businesses and industrial capabilities needed to expand reliable, affordable American energy, according to officials.
The Department of Energy’s Office of Technology Commercialization will identify strategic technology priorities, provide technical and commercialization expertise, and help engage the investment community. The Small Business Administration’s Office of Investment and Innovation will administer the initiative and encourage the formation and growth of investment funds focused on those priorities.
Before signing the agreement, Loeffler and Wright, along with Republican U.S. Reps. Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp., and Dan Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp., touted the agreement as a win for small businesses and workers.
Wright said the agreement, which is not taxpayer-funded, allows the departments to focus on what he said are strategic areas — including energy production, advanced materials, next-generation computing and scientific discovery.
“We’ve a few different areas that are very important for America’s national security and our economic security long term, and we’re teaming up to not decide — the government’s not going to make these decisions — but to help facilitate the delivery of capital into small businesses,” he said. “Small businesses are a major part of that ecosystem. This allows more capital to flow to them to grow faster.”
Loeffler also said the agreement will funnel more capital into small businesses.
“Making it easier to get financing and funding, more incentives to get that into the hands of (small businesses), whether it’s private investors or into the hands of entrepreneurs, that is what’s going to make our supply chain stronger,” she said.
Bresnahan and Meuser, members of the Small Business Committee, offered remarks praising the partnership. They pointed to Layne Crothers, Creative Design and Machining’s president, as an example of what an entrepreneur is, and the company as an example of Northeast Pennsylvania industry.
“Anytime you have an opportunity to open up over $50 billion in market capital to be able to invest into entrepreneurs, into the energy space, is certainly very exciting,” Bresnahan said. “With our incredible location and proximity to major metropolitan areas, there’s not any reason why we can’t be, and continue the advanced manufacturing right here in Northeastern Pennsylvania.”
Before the signing, Crothers led Loeffler, Wright and the congressmen on a tour of the manufacturing company’s factory, which specializes in precision machining, plastic fabrication — mainly semiconductors — and manufacturing and deploying ballast cellphone towers. After the ceremony, he said the agreement is a win for entrepreneurs.
Monday’s event was the latest appearance by top Trump administration and Cabinet officials this year with Bresnahan as he battles Scranton Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, a Democrat, in the race for the 8th Congressional District in November. Others include Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins. It marked Loeffler’s second time in Lackawanna County this year, having toured Kriger Pipeline in Dickson City in the spring.
In addition, House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared with Bresnahan in April at a fundraiser at a private home in Moosic and again this past week at an event in Wilkes-Barre.
In the 9th Congressional District, Meuser faces Democrat Rachel Wallace of Schuylkill County in the fall.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, right, and U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan take a tour of Creative Design and Machining Inc. in South Abington Twp. Monday, August 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
CEO of Creative Design and Machine, Inc. (CDMI) Layne Crothers, right, speaks to U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan during a tour at Creative Design and Machining Inc. in South Abington Twp. Monday, August 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
CEO of Creative Design and Machining Inc. (CDMI) Layne Crothers, center left, speaks to U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan during a tour with U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright at CDMI in South Abington Twp. Monday, August 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan takes a tour of Creative Design and Machining Inc. in South Abington Twp. Monday, August 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler takes a tour of Creative Design and Machining Inc. in South Abington Twp. Monday, August 24, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Kelly Loeffler, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright sign a Memorandum of Agreement establishing the Small Business Investment Company-Energy Initiative at Creative Design and Machining Inc. in South Abington Twp. Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. Looking on behind them are, from left, Creative Design and Machining Inc. President Layne Crothers, and U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser, R-9, Jackson Twp. and Rob Bresnahan, R-8, Dallas Twp. (Christine Lee/Staff Photo)