Fairmont-based tech firm wins statewide honor from U.S. Small Business Administration
Mar. 11—WASHINGTON — A Fairmont-based tech firm has been given a statewide honor by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Agile5 Technologies, whose headquarters are in the I-79 High Tech Park in Fairmont, was named winner of the National Small Business Week Award for 2024 for the state of West Virginia.
"Our 2024 National Small Business Week award winners exemplify excellence, innovation, and commitment, and the SBA is proud to showcase their incredible achievements and impact on their communities and our economy," SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said Friday in making the announcement.
The company and the other winners from other states and U.S. territories will be honored at NSBW Award Ceremonies April 28-29 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Agile5 President and CEO Lisa L. Fritsch said she is "deeply honored" for the firm's recognition.
"This prestigious accolade not only validates our commitment to proactively engaging with our customer from the beginning of projects but also acknowledges the unwavering dedication of our exceptional staff at Agile5 to executing and delivering robust technical solutions," Fritsch said.
Fritsch said the award could not have happened if it weren't for the company's co-founders shared vision.
"I extend my gratitude to my co-founders, Peter Fritsch, Adam Leach, and Chet Tobrey, whose shared vision and collaborative spirit have been instrumental in shaping Agile5 into the successful entity it is today. Their unwavering support and collective determination have been a driving force behind our success," Fritsch continued.
"I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together and look forward to continuing our journey of innovation, collaboration, and community impact."
This year's SBA honor is not the first that Agile5 has won. In 2016, the SBA named Lisa L. Fritsch and Agile5 West Virginia Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year.
"This award is incredibly rewarding as it confirms that all of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice that my partners and I have made to start Agile5 and guide it in its current direction has been a success," Fritsch previously told the Times West Virginian.
"Starting a business is fraught with uncertainties, and this award confirms that starting the company was the right decision."
The SBA was established to help Americans pursue the dream of business ownership by developing partnerships with lenders who offer low-interest loans to small business start-ups.
"National Small Business Week is the nation's opportunity to lift up the amazing entrepreneurs, small business advocates, local partners, advisors, lenders, and investors who support America's entrepreneurial spirit and the historic Biden-Harris Small Business Boom," states a SBA press release.
After the awards ceremony in April, Guzman will launch a roadshow tour from April 30-May 3 where she will make stops in Manchester, N.H., Milwaukee, Wis., Denver, Colo., and Billings, Mont. She will be joined by local leaders to honor award-winning small businesses and discuss SBA initiatives and opportunities for the small business community.
The week-long National Small Business Week celebration will also feature a virtual summit co-hosted by SCORE, mentors to America's small businesses.
According to Guzman, 16 million new business applications have been filed since the Biden-Harris Administration took office.
"This surge highlights the dynamism and innovation that America's entrepreneurs bring to our local communities. The SBA will continue to champion the endeavors of small businesses and the vital role they play in driving economic prosperity across the nation," states the press release.
