Presents Salute to Small Business
Celebrate Small Businesses at Awards Luncheon on Aug. 14th
Photo by Mahan Multimedia
Commerce Lexington’s Salute to Small Business presented by Forcht Bank features a week-long celebration (August 10-14) with plenty of opportunities to get to know this year’s Category Award winners, culminating with the Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon on Friday, August 14, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Lexington Downtown (369 W. Vine St.), where we’ll announce a new Small Business of the Year. During the week, we’ll be visiting each of the Category Award winners for Facebook Live segments, while the @330 Series will feature a panel of representatives from each award winner. At the Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon, the winning businesses and one nonprofit will be showcased through video vignettes, and each will be formally recognized. You’ll want to come early and network at the awards luncheon, as the winners in each category will be on hand to show off their products and services. [REGISTER FOR THE AWARDS LUNCHEON HERE]
2026 Award Winners
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BUSINESS SUCCESS
AWARD 
TOPS Magazine
Phone: (859) 543-8677 www.topsinlex.com TOPS has grown into one of Central Kentucky's most recognized local media brands. TOP Marketing Group is the parent company of TOPS Magazine and Limestone Digital Marketing Agency, which was created in 2020 to help local partners and advertisers leverage a wide range of digital products to increase business. |
ACHIEVEMENT IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARD:
Goff Tents & Events
Phone: (859) 887-5272 www.gofftents.com Founded in 1985 as a small family-owned party rental business, Goff Tents & Events has grown into one of the Southeast’s most trusted names in event infrastructure, offering a comprehensive inventory of tents, tables, chairs, linens, lighting, staging, dance floors, pipe and drape, and specialty event equipment. |
EXCELLENCE IN MINORITY BUSINESS AWARD:
Thea’s Bass & Biddy Kitchen
Phone: (859) 490-8366 www.bassandbiddy.com Founded in 2018 by Thea Mason, Thea’s Bass and Biddy Kitchen is a locally owned restaurant and catering business based in Lexington, specializing in fresh fried fish and fried chicken, eclectic gourmet sides, catered meals, and signature house-made products. |
NONPROFIT COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD:
Children’s Law Center
Phone: (859) 253-3353 www.childrenslawky.org Children's Law Center, or CLC, is a nonprofit legal service center that protects the rights of children and youth — so they can grow up in safe, healthy ways. CLC offers vital advocacy in the child welfare system, justice system, education system, and beyond. The work of CLC has created measurable, lasting change for many vulnerable young people across the Commonwealth. |
Salute to Small Business Week
An entire week dedicated to celebrating and getting to know the 2026 Salute to Small Business Award Winners! Join us at one or all of the special events and don't forget to tune in to the daily Facebook LIVE segments at 10:00 a.m. with our featured businesses during the week of August 10-14, 2026.
Tuesday, August 11: @330 Features Salute to Small Business Award Winners
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A great way to find success in business is to learn how other successful small businesses faced challenges and adversity, what solutions worked or didn’t work, or how they decided when the right time was to expand. During the next Commerce Lexington @330 Series presented and hosted by 46Solutions on Tuesday, August 11, from 3:30 - 5:00 p.m. at the 46Solutions’ showroom (161 Lexington Green Circle, Suite 140), participants will be able to learn from the best businesses and one outstanding nonprofit organization within our area when we feature a panel of representatives from our 2026 Salute to Small Business Award recipients.
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2026 SALUTE TO SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS
PRESENTED BY:
PLATINUM SPONSOR:
VIDEO SPONSOR:
Lamar Advertising
VIDEO PRODUCER:
Wrigley Media Group
GOLD SPONSORS:
Central Bank & Trust Co.
EXPLORE (Formerly TravelHost)
Highbridge Springs Water
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader & Kentucky.com)
Hoot App, Inc.
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
KISS 96.9FM, an LM Media station
SILVER SPONSORS:
C-Forward
Electronic Business Machines
Traditional Bank
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
BACK Construction
Churchill McGee
Express Employment Professionals
Firefighters Move U
Men In Kilts
RSR Benefits
Tresane
Lamar Advertising
VIDEO PRODUCER:
Wrigley Media Group
GOLD SPONSORS:
Central Bank & Trust Co.
EXPLORE (Formerly TravelHost)
Highbridge Springs Water
H-L Media (Lexington Herald-Leader & Kentucky.com)
Hoot App, Inc.
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
KISS 96.9FM, an LM Media station
SILVER SPONSORS:
C-Forward
Electronic Business Machines
Traditional Bank
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
BACK Construction
Churchill McGee
Express Employment Professionals
Firefighters Move U
Men In Kilts
RSR Benefits
Tresane