Houston Daily

Governor Greg Abbott has announced that the next Governor’s Small Business Summit will take place in Carthage on September 25, 2025. The event is part of a series of summits held across Texas throughout the year to support small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs by connecting them with resources and information to help 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 summit in Carthage will be held at Panola College from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. The event brings together local, state, and federal partners who provide insights on key topics for small businesses. Attendees can network with other business owners and meet experts offering advice on issues relevant to operating a small business.

Panel sessions at the summit will address workforce strategies for recruiting and developing talent; guidance on when to scale or sell a business; current trends such as social media marketing and artificial intelligence for small enterprises; and a fireside chat featuring conversations with entrepreneurs. Joe Esparza, Commissioner Representing Employers at the Texas Workforce Commission, is listed as an additional speaker.

Registration for the Carthage summit costs $20 and includes access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch, and complimentary headshots. Further details about registration can be found at gov.texas.gov/events.

Other upcoming summits include events focused on women in Denton on October 23 and veterans in Belton on November 13.

The Governor’s Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office along with the Office of Small Business Assistance also offer webinars aimed at providing information about resources available for small businesses online. Recordings of past webinars are available at gov.texas.gov/business/page/small-business-webinars.