Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the next Governor’s Small Business Summit will take place in Carthage on Thursday, September 25, 2025. The event is part of a series held throughout Texas each year to provide support and resources for small business owners and those interested in starting businesses.
“Small businesses are the driving force behind Texas’ thriving economy,” said Governor Abbott. “With more than 3.5 million small businesses across Texas, employing nearly half of all working Texans, our state continues to lead in job creation and business expansion. I invite all small business owners and entrepreneurs to attend this Governor’s Small Business Summit or one in their region. Together, we will ensure that our small businesses continue to thrive as we build a stronger, more prosperous Texas than ever before.”
The summit in Carthage will be held at Panola College from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It aims to connect participants with local, state, and federal resource partners who can offer insights on important business topics. Attendees will have opportunities for networking and can hear from experts on subjects relevant to running a small business.
Panel sessions planned for the event include strategies for workforce recruitment and development, guidance on scaling or selling a business, social media marketing trends including artificial intelligence applications for small businesses, and a conversation with entrepreneurs. Joe Esparza, Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission, is scheduled as an additional speaker.
Registration costs $20 and covers access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch, and complimentary headshots. More information about registration is available at gov.texas.gov/events.
Additional summits are scheduled later this year in Denton on October 23 (with a focus on women entrepreneurs) and Belton on November 13 (focused on veterans). The Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office also provides online webinars with information for small businesses; recordings of past webinars can be found at gov.texas.gov/business/page/small-business-webinars.
