Texas Gov. Greg Abbott last week announced the statewide 2023 Governor’s Small Business Summit, with Zapata County as one of the hosts.
The annual summit is held in 15 different cities across the state, according to the governor’s office, as the Governor’s Small Business Summit aims to help Texas small business owners by connecting them with the resources and information they need to get started And aspiring entrepreneurs reach new heights, strengthen and grow their businesses.
Zapata will effectively be the last host of the summit, as the governor and various economic development partners will meet in the county on December 7, 2023.
The Governor’s Small Business Summit offers a variety of sessions that bring together local, state and federal resource partners to provide key insights on key business topics. The summit also offers participants the opportunity to network with other business owners and meet experts who will share timely, relevant and actionable advice on a host of small business topics.
“Small businesses are at the heart of our strong Texas economy,” Abbott said. “More than 95 percent of Texas businesses are small businesses, and they employ nearly half of all Texas workers. From our large urban centers to our smaller rural communities, Texas is committed to creating a place where entrepreneurs can be free environment to pursue, grow and prosper.”
Further in his proclamation, the Governor said he looks forward to continuing to work with small businesses in every region of the state to ensure they have the tools they need to succeed in building a “brighter Texas tomorrow.”
The response from Zapata County was positive as they welcomed the Governor’s Small Business Summit, which not only helped bring more attention to small businesses in the area, but also helped showcase how small businesses are doing in rural areas.
“The Zapata County Chamber of Commerce is pleased and proud to be hosting this summit in December,” said Paco Mendoza, Governor of Zapata County Pct. 1 Also head of the Zapata County Chamber of Commerce. “This summit is a unique opportunity for small businesses as it aims to grow local businesses and provide small business owners with all the resources available to help them successfully deliver goods and services to our communities. We thank the Governor’s Office for providing This opportunity and partnership and look forward to continuing to work with them to bring more opportunities to small business owners in Zapata County.”
Two other South Texas locations where the Governor will host a business summit include Kingsville on June 29 and McAllen on August 10.
jorge.vela@lmtonline.com