Trahan Hosts Town Hall Meeting at Haverhill Library

By ALANA MELANSON 

LOWELL — U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan and local leaders and community partners came together Wednesday to mark National Small Business Week with the announcement of a $1 million federal investment in Entrepreneurship for All’s small business programs.

The occasion was held at the Stedman Street headquarters of invisaWear, one of EforAll’s success stories.

“EforAll does tremendous work to help entrepreneurs and small business owners – especially those from underserved backgrounds and communities – develop the skills and experience necessary to succeed,” Trahan said. “This federal investment will directly benefit folks who are often left out of traditional small business opportunities, which is essential in ensuring no family or small business is left behind as we recover from the pandemic.”

Trahan secured the $1 million investment in a recently passed government funding package. The funds will help expand access to EforAll’s “inclusive entrepreneurship” approach, including development and mentorship programs. The money will support the organization’s Business Accelerator programs and other initiatives, including community pitch contests, webinars and peer support groups.

“I’m proud of our work to secure this funding, which will bolster EforAll’s impact exponentially here in Lowell and across the commonwealth,” Trahan said. “I’m also excited to see just how far this investment will go, how many businesses it will help start and how many quality jobs it will create.”

Last year, despite the economic challenges of the coronavirus pandemic, EforAll alumni businesses generated over $54 million in revenue and provided 1,741 jobs.

According to EforAll CEO David Parker, the organization has “been on a mission” over the last decade to help under-represented people find training and support to grow their own businesses.

As of Wednesday, EforAll’s free, one-year Business Accelerator programs in English and Spanish have helped more than 1,000 businesses get started, Parker said. Of those, 76% are women-owned and 70% are owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color, he said.

Parker thanked Trahan for working “tirelessly” to provide more entrepreneurial opportunities to those who need them most.

“The federal funding she has just helped EforAll secure will enable us to support even more under-represented aspiring Massachusetts business owners who need our help more than ever due to the pandemic,” Parker said.

For invisaWear CEO and Co-founder Rajia Abdelaziz, EforAll’s support helped her realize her vision of creating “a safer world where women don’t have to constantly worry about their safety.” The company, which produces women’s safety and security accessories, now employs 17 people and enjoys a partnership with ADT, a leading security company.

“Almost 30 years ago, my dad immigrated to the United States to create a better future for his family. At the time, he couldn’t even afford a car and used to walk to work in the freezing Vermont winters,” Abdelaziz said. “Today, because of organizations like EforAll, his daughter runs a multimillion dollar company.”

State Rep. Vanna Howard thanked Trahan for her “fierce advocacy” to secure the funding, and said she was “thrilled” for what it will mean for creative entrepreneurs in the Merrimack Valley.

“We look forward today to what these funds will do for our local and future movers and shakers to build our economy from the ground up,” Howard said.