Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, as National Small Business Week gets underway, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) concluded a tour of small businesses in Westford and Hudson that had recently been named recipients of 2020 U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awards for their excellence. During the visits, she recognized the businesses’ achievements with a Congressional citation.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our nation’s economy, and nowhere is that more true than here in Massachusetts. They have been fighting tooth and nail for months to keep their doors open and their employees on payroll, and Small Business Week is an important opportunity to acknowledge that hard work,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Code Wiz and Lancaster Packaging are the gold standard for small business success. They are deserving of their respective awards from the Small Business Administration, and I’m glad I was able to join with them to honor their achievements and celebrate small businesses across the Commonwealth.” 

Trahan visited Code Wiz, a small business located in Westford that specializes in assisting students who are interested in learning how to code. The SBA recently named Code Wiz the 2020 Woman Owned Business of the Year.

"It’s such an honor to be named the MA Woman Small Business Owner of the Year! As an immigrant pursuing the American dream, it's awesome to be so supported,” said Ruth Agbaji, Owner and CEO of Code Wiz. “I am grateful to the SBA for providing programs to help people like me turn big visions into reality! I am also tremendously honored to have been given a certificate of congressional recognition from Congresswoman Lori Trahan. This is what dreams are made of!”

Operated by CEO, owner, and self-described “Nerd-In-Chief” Ruth Agbaji, Code Wiz provides coding, game programming, robotics, and electronics classes to children ages 7 and up. The business also offers young girls the opportunity to participate as a team in the Girls Technovation Challenge, the world’s largest technology entrepreneurship program in the world for girls under the age of 18. 

Trahan also toured and met with the leaders of Lancaster Packaging, a Hudson-based company that founder Marianne Lancaster has grown from a one product line of flexible packaging materials into a national wholesale distribution and purchasing company. Lancaster Packaging was recognized as the 2020 Massachusetts and New England SBA 8(a) Graduate of the Year.

“The SBA Programs have been instrumental in helping Lancaster to build a strong foundation to grow upon,” said Marianne Lancaster, Founder and President of Lancaster Packaging. “We are honored to receive this award! We are excited to have Congresswoman Trahan tour our facility to honor us!”

Founded and operated by Marianne Lancaster, Lancaster Packaging now provides clients with vendor and supply chain management services. As a woman-minority owned firm, the organization is devoted to developing woman and minority owned businesses across the U.S. Lancaster Packaging seeks out diverse suppliers to not only use themselves, but also to promote to their customer base.

Last week, Trahan’s office also joined with SBA Region 1 Administrator Wendell Davis and Massachusetts District Director Robert H. Nelson to recognize Specialty Materials, a Lowell-based firm that works with the U.S. Department of Defense to provide materials necessary for national defense, for being named National Subcontractor of the Year. Trahan’s office presented Specialty Materials co-owner and CEO Monica Rommel, a Harvard resident, with a Congressional citation celebrating her business’s award.

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