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Dear Texas Small Business Owners, Entrepreneurs and Resource Providers:
It's Small Business Week in Texas! From Main Street storefronts to global exporters, small businesses play a vital role in upholding Texas' standing as an economic juggernaut. As we celebrate the launch of Small Business Week in Texas, we recognize the many small business owners that power our state's economy and shape the character of our communities. These small and mighty enterprises continue to drive innovation, job creation and economic optimism across every region of our state.
During Small Business Week—and every week—we celebrate the resilience and ambition of Texas entrepreneurs and reaffirm our commitment to keeping Texas the best place to start, run and grow a business. As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to our office if there is ever a need for friendly assistance. I look forward to working with you!
— Jarvis Brewer, Small Business Advocate, Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office
May 3-9, 2026, is Small Business Week in Texas! Small businesses are the backbone of the Texas economy — and during Small Business Week in Texas, we celebrate the entrepreneurs and innovators driving opportunity in every corner of the state. With more than 3.5 million small business owners across the state, Texas continues to lead the nation in economic optimism, fueled by a business climate that has earned recognition as the Best State for Business for 22 consecutive years.
The momentum is undeniable. In 2025 alone, Texas entrepreneurs filed nearly 540,000 new business applications, and the total number of business entities has nearly doubled over the past decade. Today, 99.8% of all businesses in Texas are small businesses and they employ nearly half of the state's workforce, powering job growth across a multitude of diverse industries. Texas' small businesses are also making a global impact, accounting for more than 92% of the state's exporters and helping Texas maintain its position as the nation's top exporting state.
As we mark Small Business Week in Texas, Texas reaffirms its commitment to cutting red tape, fostering innovation and ensuring every entrepreneur has the freedom to succeed and achieve the American Dream.
Read Governor Greg Abbott's official proclamation here.
Ready to join the celebration?
Be sure to follow @TexasEconDev on all platforms for updates and resources as we place a spotlight on Small Business Week in Texas. You can additionally show your appreciation by:
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• Downloading the official Small Business Week in Texas badge to use on all promotions.
• Use the hashtag #SmallBizWeekTEXAS in your social media posts.
• And most importantly, shop local — supporting your local small businesses in a big way! |
Feedback from a Governor's Small Business Summit: "Attendees received valuable information and practical advice, while also having the opportunity to connect with other business owners for potential collaboration. The speakers' messages were both encouraging and inspiring."
– Small Business Summit Attendee in Allen
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Information on demand: Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or established business owner, the Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal will provide you with the most relevant resources and contacts to assist you in starting or growing your business in Texas.
Types of information included in the portal:
- Federal, State and Local Resources
- Business Advice and Growth Assistance
- Funding Sources
- Licensing and Permitting Information
- Additional Specific Resources & Contacts
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Watch on your schedule. The Governor's Small Business Webinars provide updates on resources and topics from subject-matter experts. Playbacks are available to watch online.
Resources to fit your needs. The Innovation and Entrepreneurship Catalog compiles resources currently operating within the state and connects Texas innovators and entrepreneurs with resources that can best meet their needs; from business accelerators, incubators and co-working spaces, to venture capital and pitch programs.
July 20-24 in Farnborough, England
The Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office, within the Office of the Governor, invites Texas companies to apply to join the Texas Pavilion at Farnborough International Airshow (FIA).
FIA is an international aviation and aerospace exhibition located outside of London, England, highlighting the newest technologies of the aerospace industry and related equipment, such as aircraft engines, satellite navigation technology, aircraft cabins, seats, weapons systems and more.
To learn more about the event like what you would receive as an exhibitor, criteria for consideration, costs associated with attending and/or to register your interest, visit the link below.
Application deadline is May 15.
FAQ / Did you know?
The Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO) — charged to review state agency rules and procedures to reduce regulatory burdens; eliminate waste, fraud and unnecessary rules; and increase transparency for Texas taxpayers — has a Regulation Evaluation Portal where you can provide first-hand feedback. TREO utilizes public input to help guide state agencies in finding outdated and redundant regulations and create best practices to make agencies rulemaking processes more efficient.
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The Small Business Assistance team travels to communities around the state throughout the year to meet with small businesses and share information on the resources available. We look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming events or webinars!
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May 7: Small Business Resource Fair in Seguin
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May 7: U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA) San Antonio District Small Business Week Awards, cohosted by Texas South-West Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) SBDC.
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May 13: "Main Street First: Strengthening Small Business Disaster Recovery" in Kerrville hosted by LiftFund.
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May 14: Governor's Small Business Summit — Mission
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May 28: Governor's Small Business Summit — Tyler
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June 11: Governor's Small Business Summit — Laredo
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June 25: Governor's Small Business Summit — Pasadena
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July 9: Governor's Small Business Summit — Graham
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July 23: Governor's Small Business Summit — Copperas Cove
Be sure to follow us on social media or check back at our events page as more information is released for each event.
 The Governor's Small Business Summit — Allen kicked off the 2026 in-person event series on April 2. Among the many critical business topics discussed was, "AI Unlocked: How Small Business Can Benefit from AI."
 The Summit roadshow continued in Cuero on April 16. This year's events offer a dedicated one-hour Resource Provider Fair at the start of the programming to allow attendees more time to network and connect with the various federal, state and local resource providers.
Other recent small business meetings and events:
- Earlier this month, Small Business Specialist Bryan Roller participated in the State of Small Business in Austin - The Economic Outlook in 2026. Hosted by the City of Austin Economic Development, the event brought together experts to help local small businesses and entrepreneurs understand the trends that matter for the year ahead.
- Small Business Advocate Jarvis Brewer attended the 2026 Concordia Horizon Summit: United States in Arlington, April 28 – 29. Hosted in partnership with the National Medal Honor Museum Foundation, Brewer participated in the "Business Leadership for America's 250th Anniversary" roundtable. The Summit was centered on economic growth and cultural diplomacy, and explored how to build back Main Street, the rise of new financial hubs, civic leadership and the power of sports to galvanize communities.
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