Governor Greg Abbott has announced 15 Texas communities as host cities for the 2026 Governor’s Small Business Summit, a statewide event series designed to connect small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the resources, guidance, and partnerships needed to grow.
What the Summit Covers
Each summit brings together local, state, and federal resource partners for sessions on business development, regulatory guidance, financing, and workforce planning. Attendees also get direct networking time with established business owners and subject-matter experts.
Registration is $20 per event and includes access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch, and complimentary headshots.
When and Where
The series kicks off April 2 in Allen, with Cuero following on April 16. Additional host cities include Tyler, Laredo, Pasadena, Mission, Graham, Copperas Cove, Midland, Pflugerville, Nacogdoches, Brewster County, Dalhart, El Campo, and Midlothian, spanning nearly every region of the state.
Registration for Allen and Cuero is open now. All other locations open registration three months before their event date.
Why Entrepreneurs Should Pay Attention
Texas is home to more than 3.5 million small businesses, employing nearly half the state’s private-sector workforce. Abbott framed the summit series as a direct response to that scale, an effort to make sure business owners across every region have access to the same quality of information and support.
Forest Cole Langston’s Take
Forest Cole Langston, founder of Blue Line Real Estate Consulting LLC and Blue Line Vending of Texas, sees events like this as something Texas entrepreneurs can’t afford to skip.
“The resources are there. Most people just don’t use them,” says Langston. “Getting in a room with the right people, asking the right questions, and understanding what’s actually available to you as a business owner in this state can change the trajectory of your business.”
Langston, who spent 32 years in public service before transitioning into entrepreneurship, draws a direct line between community investment and business success. His advice to Texas entrepreneurs is simple: register, show up, and take it seriously.
The April 2 Allen summit is the first opportunity to do exactly that. Registration is open at gov.texas.gov/events.