What a week.
This past week, our community came together to celebrate the entrepreneurs, dreamers, innovators, and hardworking business owners who help make Abilene such a special place to live, work, and grow. Small Business Week was filled with celebrations, connections, recognition, and most importantly, a reminder of just how important it is to support local.
Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create jobs, invest back into our community, support local causes, and help give Abilene its unique character and spirit. Every time you choose to shop local, eat local, or support a hometown business, you are investing directly into the future of our community.
While this week aligned with National Small Business Week, the truth is every week is Small Business Week for your Chamber. Supporting and celebrating our local businesses is something we are committed to year-round because small businesses are at the heart of what makes Abilene strong.
As I always say, “It’s people like you in rooms like this who come together and accomplish major things.”
That spirit was on full display all week long.
We kicked off Small Business Week on Monday with our Salute to Small Business Week Kickoff Ceremony & Ribbon Cutting sponsored by Allied Employer Group. It was a great way to start the week as we celebrated local businesses and recognized the entrepreneurial energy that continues to grow throughout Abilene.
Monday’s ribbon cuttings included:
• Small Business Week Kickoff Ribbon Cutting with Arrow Ford, First Financial Bank, and America’s SBDC at Texas Tech
• 6 Year Anniversary for Dynamic Pix Photo Booth
• 1 Year Anniversary for Goat Ridge Roofing
Then on Wednesday, we gathered for the 2026 Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by First Financial Bank, Arrow Ford, and America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University. The luncheon gave us the opportunity to recognize some truly outstanding businesses and individuals who are making a major impact in our community.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners:
New Business of the Year
True Grit Physical Therapy
Sponsored by Abilene Environmental Landfill
Family-Owned Business of the Year
Bogie’s Downtown Deli
Sponsored by Arrow Ford
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Ethan Kunkel, County Waste Service
Sponsored by Presley Wealth Stewards
Community Investment Award
Abilene Auto Spa
Sponsored by First Financial Bank
2026 Small Business Persons of the Year
Grain Theory
Sponsored by America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University
2026 Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year
Leslie Sepeda, Abilene Auto Spa
Sponsored by America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University
2026 Lender of the Year
Capital CDC, Jason Bigham
Sponsored by America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University
You can view the full list of this year’s nominees, finalists, and winners here:
2026 Small Business Awards Nominees, Finalists & Winners
On Thursday, our community continued the celebration with Social Media Day. Thank you to everyone who took the time to shout out a local business online, share your favorite spots, and show support for the businesses that help our community thrive every day.
We wrapped up the week Friday morning at Morning Edge sponsored by First Financial Bank at El Fenix. It was a wonderful morning celebrating our small businesses, our award winners, and the strong community that supports them.
During the event, the Abilene Chamber Hispanic Business Council also recognized Crane’s Craft BBQ as a local family-owned, Hispanic-owned, and veteran-owned business that continues to make a positive impact in our region.
Thank you again to our Small Business Week sponsors, First Financial Bank, Arrow Ford, and America’s SBDC at Texas Tech University, for helping make this incredible week possible.
Most importantly, thank you to our small businesses. Your hard work, resilience, and commitment to our community do not go unnoticed. We encourage everyone to continue shopping small, supporting local, and celebrating the businesses that help make Abilene stronger every single day.
Onward!