​Commerce Lexington began honoring the contributions that small businesses have on our economy in 1986, and since that very first Salute to Small Business event, the impact of small businesses has become more important than ever.  This week marks National Small Business Week, so what better way to mark the occasion than with the opening of the application process for the 2026 Salute to Small Business Awards presented by Forcht Bank.  How does your small business or nonprofit stack up against the area’s best?  Apply by June 18, 2026, for one of four award categories and find out who will be crowned the new Small Business of the Year at an awards luncheon on August 14.
 
Commerce Lexington President and CEO, Bob Quick, said, “Small businesses continue to be the backbone of our economy. It takes a great deal of sacrifice and hard work to be a business owner, and our Salute to Small Business Awards are a way for us to say, thank you, and recognize the many exceptional small businesses that are woven into the fabric of every part of our community and region. We are excited to hear the stories of success from this year’s group of award winners.” 

Whether just starting or looking to expand, small business owners need financing to make their dreams become reality. An outgrowth of Commerce Lexington’s intercity visit to Nashville in mid-2000, the organization teamed up with the area’s leading banks and financial institutions to create the Access Loan Program to help facilitate financing for small, minority-owned, and women-owned businesses. Twenty-five years ago, the first Access Loan recipient was Mulberry & Lime, a retail home furnishings and gifts shop, which is still located at 216 North Limestone.
 
Through the support of Commerce Lexington staff, the Kentucky Small Business Development Center, and many financial partners, the program improves the odds of small business owners getting approval for a loan that matches their needs.  With a first-year goal to approve $225,000 in loans back in 2001, the Access Loan Program far exceeded early expectations with $1.4 million in approved loans during its first nine months. Since its inception, the program has facilitated $27.1 million in loans for 136 small businesses across the region and grown to include 26 participating entities. 

​Commerce Lexington is proud to announce a new annual event called Adapt. Compete. Grow. - A Forum for Business on Monday, March 30, from 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. at The Campbell House (1375 S. Broadway). Our featured speaker will be Daron K. Roberts, a nationally recognized speaker, who will present “Stay in The Deep End: A Playbook for Waging War Against Your Status Quo in 2026.”  When uncertainty hits, most businesses instinctively pull back—but that’s exactly when opportunity appears. During Stay In The Deep End, you’ll learn how to adapt without panic, compete without copying, and grow without waiting for perfect conditions. This talk challenges safe thinking and equips leaders with a mindset built for volatility, not comfort.

​Many people have dreams of owning their own business, but often they don’t know where to start. It takes research, proper planning, financing and much more to put oneself in a position to realize the dream of owning and operating a business.  Investing the time on the front end to learn about the steps necessary can increase the odds of success when starting a small business.
 
Commerce Lexington is pleased to provide the Money Smart for Small Business program at no cost for aspiring entrepreneurs and existing small business owners. This six-week program developed jointly by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) kicks off Monday, October 6, at 5:30 p.m. in Commerce Lexington’s first floor conference space (330 E. Main Street).  Subsequent classes will continue each Monday evening at 5:30 p.m. through November 10 and will present an introduction to topics related to starting and managing a small business.  Food will also be provided during the classes. 

At today’s Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by Forcht Bank, DV8 Kitchen & Bakery was named the 2025 Small Business of the Year. Other award winners included BACK Construction (Business Success) and the Hope Center (Nonprofit Community Impact). The week-long celebration featured Facebook Live segments at each award winner, a panel discussion with representatives of the award recipients, a Salute to Small Business Night at Legends Field with 250Lex, and an awards luncheon.