Story provided by Meridian Technology Center
Though Pat Crane may enter a business as an unexpected visitor, he hopes to leave as a valued partner.
Crane uses his industry experience and the relationships he’s built to connect with companies in the Meridian and Central Technology Center districts. Through his work as a Business Services Consultant he connects businesses with the resources they need to thrive – and he does it at no cost to the company.
“I’ve been doing this for 10 and a half years,” Crane said. “I help with nearly any area of the business, largely focusing on business-to-business referrals. The range of assistance varies as much as the company does, ranging from certifications to general consulting to sometimes helping with the financial side of their business.”
With over 33 years of experience in senior-level engineering projects, quality control and manufacturing, Crane focuses primarily on industrial companies, offering a wealth of knowledge. He also uses his connections to build relationships between businesses.
“Through Pat we were able to connect with the Chamber and other Stillwater representatives to get the ball rolling on our new location,” said Hayden Campbell, manager at Platinum Arch.
Crane worked with Platinum Arch, a Stillwater company that specializes in manufacturing and installing storage tanks, not only to help them to identify a second location, but he also helped them secure funding through the Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program.
“When I go into businesses I’m not there to sell them anything,” Crane said of his consulting services, “I am there to provide help where I can, and it doesn’t cost the business anything.”
The Oklahoma Innovation Expansion Program
OIEP provides $15 million in funding to Oklahoma businesses that qualify for their program.
“We were able to secure funding from the OIEP to support new equipment investments for our business,” Campbell said. “Pat was with us every step of the way. From completing our application to answering questions, and even as far as reaching out to representatives within the OIEP to get us connected.”
The OIEP offers funding to companies that are completing projects to strengthen the state economy, develop new or innovative products or target new markets. OIEP offers the funding through payroll tax rebates. OIEP requires businesses have a minimum payroll of $625,000 per year to qualify.
Last year between the Meridian and Central districts Crane assisted 23 companies in completing OIEP applications. One hundred percent of the companies he worked with were awarded funding through the program. The amount totaled $1,559,900. Across the state only 76.7% of companies that applied for the OIEP were awarded the funding.
OIEP is not the only funding source Crane helps businesses access. Crane partners with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and conducts his own research to discover grants and funding opportunities that would benefit the companies he works with.
Meridian and Central Tech also offer low-cost training that Crane connects companies with. The training is flexible and offered in several areas to meet the needs of the company.
To see if your business could benefit from working with Crane, contact Meridian’s Workforce and Economic Development division at 405-377-3333.
Meridian Technology Center has been a driver of economic development since 1975. With a mission to educate, enrich lives and secure economic futures, Meridian offers full-time career training programs, short courses, Business and Industry services and entrepreneurial support to residents from the Agra, Carney, Glencoe, Guthrie, Morrison, Mulhall-Orlando, Pawnee, Perkins-Tryon, Perry and Stillwater school districts.