Small businesses have long been the lifeblood of rural communities nationwide, fostering local job growth and economic opportunities that help Rural America thrive.
Texas Small Business Owner Highlight
Faced with a lack of diverse food options, Jaja Chen and Devin Li decided to bring a bit of their East Asian heritage to Waco, Texas.
Waco Cha started off as a tent at the Waco Downtown Farmers Market selling boba tea, but within a year they gained so much popularity that Jaja and Devin were able to purchase a truck and expand their reach and their services. Not only were they selling boba out of their truck, but they began hosting “Dumpling Night Workshop,” where they teach members of their community how to fold, make and eat dumplings from start to finish.
Texas Events
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 |
2:00pm ET
Webinar | National
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 |
2-3 pm (ET)
Workshop | National
Have you ever wanted to apply for a grant opportunity, but didn't know where to start? Join Small Business Majority, in partnership with Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, to learn how to identify and apply for grants that could help you start or grow your small business.
Tuesday, June 10, 2025 |
12:00pm ET / 9:00am PT
Workshop | National
In today's world, there are so many options for capital that are available for entrepreneurs, but how do you parse out predatory lenders from safe lenders?
Texas Policy
Browse our latest state-based regulatory comments and legislative testimony in this area below, or click the button to view all records.
Friday, April 11, 2025
Today, Senior Public Policy Director Awesta Sarkash, submitted a letter of support for HB 2556, which would support entrepreneurs across the state by addressing unfair and abusive facility fees. Business owners are busy enough, which is why billing should be clear and transparent to save business owners time.
Wednesday, January 29, 2025
Small Business Majority has created recommendations to capture our policy priorities that would help to ensure a thriving and inclusive economy in Texas. The state is comprised of more than 3.3 million small businesses employing 4.9 million people.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Today, Public Policy Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted written testimony in favor of SB 499, Clean Slate Texas, to the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs. The legislation would strengthen our economy, expand the talent poll for small businesses, and make Texas a better place to live and work.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Today, Public Policy Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted written testimony in favor of SB 499, Clean Slate Texas, to the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. The legislation would strengthen our economy, expand the talent poll for small businesses, and make Texas a better place to live and work.
Texas Research
Published:
Wed, 04/03/2024
Small Business Majority’s new poll of Texas small business owners reveals strong support for legislative solutions that would remove barriers for justice-impacted individuals by making reforms to occupational licensing and debt-based driver’s license suspensions. These politically diverse small business owners believe these measures would enable employers to tap into an underutilized workforce and open up opportunities for entrepreneurship.
Published:
Tue, 02/07/2023
Small businesses in Texas are still struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce, persistent challenges in the wake of the pandemic.
Published:
Wed, 01/25/2023
While small businesses employ nearly half (46.4%) of the private workforce in the United States, many are struggling to hire and retain a ready workforce. One viable solution to their persistent workforce challenges is the passing of Clean Slate policies, which seal and expunge certain criminal records and allow justice-impacted individuals to seek employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Individual state analyses of small business responses in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas found widespread support for Clean Slate policies at the state and federal level.
