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 of summits held throughout Texas to provide small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with resources and information aimed at helping them start, strengthen, and grow their 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 Carthage summit will bring together resource partners from local, state, and federal levels to offer guidance on important business topics. Attendees will have the chance to network with other business owners and hear from experts who will provide practical advice on issues relevant to running a small business.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, September 25, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Panola College in Carthage. Panel sessions include discussions on workforce strategies, scaling or selling a business, social media marketing and AI for small businesses, as well as a fireside chat with entrepreneurs. Joe Esparza, Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission, is listed as an additional speaker.
Registration for the summit costs $20 and includes access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch, and complimentary headshots. More information about registration can be found at https://gov.texas.gov/events.
Other upcoming Governor’s Small Business Summits are planned for Denton on October 23 (focused on women) and Belton on November 13 (focused on veterans).
In addition to these events held around the state each year—which aim to connect participants with essential resources—the Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office and Office of Small Business Assistance also offer online webinars for those interested in learning more about resources available for small businesses in Texas. On-demand recordings of past webinars are available at https://gov.texas.gov/business/page/small-business-webinars.
