From the very beginning, it's been the courage of Texans - individuals who take bold risks, invest deeply and pour their passion into their ideas - that has long defined the great success of Texas. That pioneering spirit is what continues to propel our shared prosperity today.
In Texas, small businesses are the very heartbeat of our thriving economy. Over 99% of businesses in our great state are small businesses, and they employ nearly half of the Texas workforce. Thanks to the determination of our more than 3.3 million small businesses, “Made in Texas” has never been more powerful global brand. In fact, small businesses make up 92% of all Texas exporters, helping to secure Texas' spot as the nation's top exporting nation for 23 consecutive years.
Ranked as the Best Business Climate in the nation and the Best State to Start a Business, Texas offers small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs of all backgrounds the tools to succeed. And I'm proud to recognize Texas as the home to more than 1.4 million women business owners, one in five of the nation's Hispanic business owners, and one in ten of the nation's black business owners.
To ensure small businesses continue to succeed in Texas, I recently created the Small Business Freedom Council to recommend the elimination of unnecessary rules, fees, and regulations that create barriers to small business growth in Texas. Recommendations provided by state agency heads and hundreds of Texas small business owners were compiled in a comprehensive report for the Texas Legislature to review. And in April, I was proud to sign Senate Bill 14 into law creating the Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office. The new law builds on the Freedom Council's recommendations and will slash regulations, put stricter standards on new regulations that could be costly to businesses, and ensure Texas remains the best state for businesses of all sizes.
Today, I welcome you to the 2025 Governor's Small Business Summit - Pharr, designed to help small business owners and entrepreneurs like you take their business to new heights.
Co-hosted by my office, the Pharr Economic Development Corporation and Texas Workforce Commission, this event helps businesses at every stage of development find answers on accessing financing, hiring skilled employees, bidding on government contracts, marketing your business and more.
With a variety of session topics and expert speakers, this summit offers a unique opportunity to connect with industry leaders, government representatives, resource providers, and fellow business owners. I invite you to take full advantage of the knowledge and resources shared throughout this event.
When small businesses succeed, Texas succeeds. By working together to support small businesses, we will build a stronger, more prosperous Texas than ever before.
Editor's Note: The above commentary was penned by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for the 2025 Governor's Small Business Summit - Pharr. It was held at the Jose "Pepe" Salinas Memorial Recreation Center in Pharr on Aug. 7, 2025.
