The waiting is over!

It seems like years since we last celebrated Small Business Week. You know why? Because it has been.

The nasty year 2020 robbed us of a lot – including this particular week where we pause to say thank you to our risk-takers.

Each year since 1963, the president of the United States designates one week as National Small Business Week. Normally, that week is the first week in May, but thanks to the weirdness that was 2020, that week became discombobulated and has carried into 2021.

Officially set for the fall this year, your Chamber is tired of waiting. There’s never been a more important time to celebrate small businesses. Especially now.

And there’s plenty of opportunity for you to engage. What am I talking about?

This year’s Small Business week is packed – and I mean packed – full of activities. One every single day, in fact.

We’ll kick-off the week next Monday, May 3 at 3:30 pm right at the corner of Cypress Street and North 2^nd at the Great West Texas Economic Reboot Ribbon Cutting! We’re proud of the way our business community has dealt with the storm thrown at them and we’ll celebrate the risk-takers and small business owners in an official Ribbon Cutting. Are you a business without a storefront? Let us help celebrate your business with a Ribbon Cutting during the Economic Reboot Ribbon Cutting thanks to our partner Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram! Click here to get more info.

On Tuesday, we’ll celebrate the recipients of our 2021 Salute to Small Business Awards at our luncheon. The event is officially SOLD OUT thanks to our amazing business community, but get your name on the waiting list for a chance at a seat. Contact Stephanie Burke for more.

Wake Up Wednesday will have a twist honoring our recipients of the 2021 Small Business Awards thanks to First Financial Bank and America’s SBDC at Texas Tech.

Our Inaugural West Texas Entrepreneurial Bootcamp will take place on Thursday featuring sessions on marketing your business, business expansion, funding sources for your business, basic legal considerations and more. This event is brought to you in partnership with Perry Hunter Hall Insurance and you can grab your tickets here.

And finally on Friday, we’ll end the week with a special tribute to our small business community on social media. But, we’re also running a contest! There are many ways to support our local business community for free and leaving a positive Google, Yelp or Facebook review is just one of them. Submit a screenshot of your positive review for a local Abilene business from Google, Yelp or Facebook at abilenechamber@gmail.com and be entered to win $50 Keep It Local e-gift card!

None of these events would be possible without the support of our Small Business Week sponsors; America’s SBDC at Texas Tech, First Financial Bank, and Star Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. Please join me in thanking them for their support.

Your Chamber’s Board, taskforces, committees, and your fellow members look forward to celebrating the week with you, and appreciate your continued investment in our great, growing community.

Onward!