Gov. Abbott Kicks Off 2026 Small Business Summit Series in Allen

Allen lands the first stop on the 2026 statewide tour when the Governor's Small Business Summit arrives at the Marriott Dallas Allen Hotel & Convention Center, 777 Watters Creek Blvd., on April 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is the opening chapter of a year-long initiative that Gov. Greg Abbott announced for 15 Texas communities, with summits held throughout the year and in regions across the state, aimed at helping small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs start, strengthen, and grow a business.

The Allen summit is hosted in partnership with the Allen Economic Development Corporation and Texas Workforce Commission, with the Allen EDC and Credit Union of Texas serving as event sponsors. The event brings together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on critical business topics.

The agenda spans four named sessions: "AI Unlocked: How Small Business Can Benefit from AI," "Small Business Solutions: The New Pipeline for Workforce Success," "Blueprints & Battle Scars: Lessons from Entrepreneurs in the Trenches," and "Bricks, Mortar & Momentum: Commercial Real Estate Strategies for Small Business Owners." The lineup reflects the practical, industry-specific focus that has defined the series, covering everything from artificial intelligence adoption to commercial leasing strategy.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the Texas economy," said Governor Abbott. "With more than 3.5 million small businesses across our state employing nearly half of all working Texans, Texas continues to lead the nation as the top state for job creation. I congratulate the communities selected to host a Governor's Small Business Summit and encourage small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs to participate. By connecting Texans with the tools, resources, and partnerships they need to grow their businesses, we will spur continued economic expansion across every region."

Registration costs $20 per person and includes access to all sessions, resource providers, lunch, and complimentary headshots. Registration is currently open for the first two 2026 Governor's Small Business Summit locations, including the April 2 event in Allen, with registration for the remaining summit locations opening approximately three months ahead of each event. Sign-ups are available at gov.texas.gov.

The 2026 schedule begins April 2 in Allen, followed by Cuero on April 16. The full calendar runs through November, hitting Mission, Tyler, Laredo, Pasadena, Graham, Copperas Cove, Midland, Pflugerville, Nacogdoches, Brewster County, Dalhart, El Campo, and Midlothian.

As one of 15 Texas cities chosen for 2026, Allen will serve as a regional hub where business owners can learn directly from experts, connect with peers and explore opportunities to expand their operations. For the DFW business community, the Watters Creek venue puts a full day of statewide resources within a short drive, well before the series moves on to South and West Texas later in the spring.