Presents Salute to Small Business
2026 Salute to Small Business Award Applications Due June 18
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. The application process for the 2026 Salute to Small Business Awards presented by Forcht Bank is open now. 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.
AWARD CATEGORIES:
AWARD ELIGIBILITY:
- Excellence in Minority Business
- Business Success
- Achievement in Entrepreneurship
- Nonprofit Community Impact Award (not eligible for overall Small Business of the Year Award)
AWARD ELIGIBILITY:
- Businesses must be active members of Commerce Lexington
- Businesses must have completed three (3) or more full years of operation in the local market with fewer than 150 employees.
- Small businesses can apply for ONE award category.
- Past Category and overall Small Business of the Year award recipients are not eligible to reapply for 5 years from the date of their award presentation.
NOMINATE YOUR FAVORITE SMALL BUSINESS FOR AN AWARD:
The general public can also nominate their favorite small business, and our team will follow up with the owner to give them all the details about applying for an award. Nominate a business for a 2026 Salute to Small Business Award ON-LINE HERE.
The general public can also nominate their favorite small business, and our team will follow up with the owner to give them all the details about applying for an award. Nominate a business for a 2026 Salute to Small Business Award ON-LINE HERE.
DV8 Kitchen & Bakery Named 2025 Small Business of the Year:
Photo by Mahan Multimedia
At the Commerce Lexington 2025 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 Night at Legends Field honoring local business as part of the 250Lex celebration, and an awards luncheon.
Commerce Lexington recently began a tradition of partnering with local artists in the creative community to showcase their exceptional work and enhance some of our key events. This year’s custom award presented to Small Business of the Year winner DV8 Kitchen was created by ceramic artist Wyman Rice, who studied art and ceramics at University of Louisville and University of Kentucky. His work has been featured in Joe Molinaro’s book “A Pottery Tour of Kentucky” and in various magazines.
Commerce Lexington recently began a tradition of partnering with local artists in the creative community to showcase their exceptional work and enhance some of our key events. This year’s custom award presented to Small Business of the Year winner DV8 Kitchen was created by ceramic artist Wyman Rice, who studied art and ceramics at University of Louisville and University of Kentucky. His work has been featured in Joe Molinaro’s book “A Pottery Tour of Kentucky” and in various magazines.
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 with our featured businesses during the week of August 10-14, 2026.
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)
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
LM Communications
Traditional Bank
SILVER SPONSORS:
C-Forward
Electronic Business Machines
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
BACK Construction
Churchill McGee
Express Employment Professionals
Firefighters Move U
Men In Kilts
Old National Bank
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)
Kentucky Employers' Mutual Insurance
LM Communications
Traditional Bank
SILVER SPONSORS:
C-Forward
Electronic Business Machines
SMALL BUSINESS SPONSORS:
BACK Construction
Churchill McGee
Express Employment Professionals
Firefighters Move U
Men In Kilts
Old National Bank
RSR Benefits
Tresane