Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced the selection of 15 communities across the Lone Star State as host cities for the 2026 Governor’s Small Business Summit, a move aimed at bolstering what he called “the backbone of the Texas economy.” The event, scheduled for January 15, 2026, comes as Texas continues to cement its reputation as one of America’s small business powerhouses.
“Small businesses are the backbone of the Texas economy,” said Governor Abbott in a statement announcing the summit locations.
Small Business Boom Continues
The summit announcement comes amid impressive growth in Texas’ small business sector. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of small businesses in the state grew by a remarkable 24 percent, with revenue jumping 54.5 percent and employment increasing by 7.1 percent, according to data compiled by the state comptroller’s office.
Just how significant are small businesses to the Texas economy? They employ approximately 5.1 million people — about 44% of the state’s entire workforce — and make up a staggering 99.8 percent of all businesses operating in Texas, the comptroller’s office reports.
Census Bureau data indicates there were about 3.5 million small businesses operating in Texas as of 2022, a figure that continues to grow as the state attracts entrepreneurs from across the country and abroad. These businesses range from mom-and-pop shops to tech startups to specialized service providers.
Diversity in Entrepreneurship
Perhaps most notable is Texas’ leadership position in minority business ownership. The state ranks #1 in America for small minority businesses with 710,215 minority-owned small enterprises, according to recent statistics.
These businesses collectively employ nearly half of all working Texans, creating a diverse economic ecosystem that has proven remarkably resilient even through economic challenges.
Why has Texas become such a magnet for small business creation? Recent tax reforms appear to be part of the equation.
The passage of Proposition 9 delivered more than $500 million in tax savings for small business owners across the state, contributing to a wave of optimism heading into 2026.
“With the voters’ approval of Prop 9, delivering more than $500 million in tax savings for small business owners across the state, Texas small business owners closed out 2025 optimistic and hopeful for better business conditions in 2026,” NFIB State Director Jeff Burdett noted in a recent assessment of business sentiment.
The upcoming summit aims to build on this momentum by providing resources, networking opportunities, and policy updates to small business owners across the state’s diverse regions.
As the 2026 event approaches, many business advocates are watching to see if Texas can maintain its impressive growth trajectory in small business creation — a sector that, despite often being overshadowed by the state’s energy and tech giants, continues to drive much of its economic success.
