Published
May 07, 2026
Every day, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce shows up for small business. National Small Business Week is a great opportunity to highlight the resources available to help small businesses grow—and recognize their accomplishments.
Small businesses are the engine of the American economy and serving them is in our DNA. Whether it's the 4.7 million unique visitors who turn to our digital platform for small business, CO—, each year for tools and insights, the entrepreneurs represented through our 1,500 state and local chamber partners, or the leaders shaping policy through our Small Business Council and Board of Directors, the U.S. Chamber exists to give every American small business a seat at the table and a voice in the debate.
This year's National Small Business Week is no exception. Across advocacy, education, and recognition, we're bringing the full weight of our platform to celebrate and support the more than 5 million small businesses and entrepreneurs we serve.
Here are some highlights:
CO— Small Business Day Convenes Entrepreneurs, Leading Experts
The U.S. Chamber’s CO— Small Business Day event convened entrepreneurs, experts, and industry leaders for a full day of insights and practical guidance on growing a business in today’s economy.
The event featured conversations on innovation, digital transformation, and scaling for success—highlighting real-world examples from small business owners who are leveraging new tools and strategies to drive growth.
At the event, U.S. Chamber Executive Vice President and Chief Policy Officer Neil Bradley shared the current economic outlook and the positive impact deregulation is having on small businesses.
“Deregulation out of the administration was really reducing the red tape burden on businesses. We're seeing the positive effects of that,” Bradley said. “The tax bill provides businesses with certainty and consumers with more certainty. That was kind of the wind in our sails.”
Small Business Administration Deputy Administrator Bill Briggs discussed how this week the administration is celebrating small businesses, who are the backbone of our economy. "Under this president, more small businesses have started,” he said.
Briggs also shared how the Administration is focused on alleviating the regulatory burden on small businesses.
“If you have a federal regulation in any department or agency that you are concerned about—let us know—you will get a real, live response,” Briggs said. “We are really focused on common-sense solutions and deregulatory efforts to help small businesses grow and expand.”
During the event, National Cybersecurity Alliance Executive Director Lisa Plaggemier shared practical tips small businesses can utilize to protect themselves against cyber crime. She noted that most people do not realize how often small businesses are compromised.
“Small businesses really need to have a resiliency plan even if you don’t think it’s going to happen to you,” she said.
Dwayne Myers, Co-Owner & CEO of Dynamic Automotive and 2025 CO—100 Top Business award recipient, offered advice to his fellow small business owners.
“If you want to be successful small business, invest in the community you serve,” he said. “You will get to know your elected officials. You will get to know the people that make a difference. Those people know other people. If you have a problem, they can find someone to help you solve it.”
To close CO—'s Small Business Day, attendees heard from the Founder of Josh Cellars, Joseph Carr, who shared his journey from a blue-collar town to building America's No. 1 premium wine brand.
From the start, Carr set out with a clear mission: To make a wine that's approachable, complex, balanced, and of good value. That vision carried him further than he ever imagined. Today, Josh Cellars moves seven million cases of wine a year.
"That is an American dream," he said.
Carr emphasized that as a small business, you must learn how to pivot. Flexibility, he explained, is essential for survival and growth. He also spoke about the core values that have guided his brand—respect, trust, and family—principles that have shaped not just his business, but his leadership.
CO—100: Recognizing America’s Top Small Businesses
During the Small Business Day celebrations, the U.S. Chamber officially opened applications for the CO—100, an annual awards program recognizing the nation’s most innovative and high-performing small businesses.
The program celebrates companies that are driving growth, solving problems, and making an impact in their communities. Selected businesses will receive national recognition, expanded visibility through CO—, and access to exclusive networking and programming opportunities, culminating in an awards experience in Washington, D.C. later this year.
Applications are open through July 23, 2026.
Small Business B(AI)sics: Free AI Training for Entrepreneurs Now Open for Enrollment
To help small businesses harness the power of emerging technologies, the U.S. Chamber and U.S. Chamber Foundation announced that Small Business B(AI)sics, a new nationwide program offering free AI training courses, is now open for enrollment.
The initiative, launched with support from Google.org, equips entrepreneurs with practical tools and guidance to integrate AI into their operations—from marketing and customer engagement to efficiency and growth—ensuring small businesses can compete and thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
Through Small Business B(AI)sics, entrepreneurs can access:
- Online, self‑paced AI courses available through the Chamber’s small business platform, CO—
- In‑person workshops hosted by state and local chambers of commerce nationwide in partnership with the U.S. Chamber Foundation
- Live and on‑demand trainings focused on real‑world business applications of AI
- Practical guides and resources designed specifically for small business owners
Small business owners can explore Small Business B(AI)sics courses and find upcoming local trainings through select local chambers of commerce here.
Advocacy: Regulatory Reform for Small Business
More than 320 state and local chambers joined the U.S. Chamber to ask Congress to pass the Prove It Act (H.R. 1163), which prioritizes transparency for small businesses when new federal regulations are crafted.
The Prove It Act would close loopholes and bring more transparency to the costs of red tape on America’s small businesses by:
- Improving transparency in the regulatory process by requiring agencies to fully disclose and justify their analyses of small business impacts;
- Enhancing opportunities for small businesses to provide input early in the rulemaking process, so that agencies can design rules with greater flexibility and clearer compliance pathways; and
- Reinforcing the core purpose of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, ensuring that federal agencies “prove” their assumptions and methodologies when they claim a rule will not significantly affect small businesses.
Hiring Our Heroes Awards Grants to Small Businesses
The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes recently held its 2026 Small Business Grant Program Awards to recognize veteran and military spouse-owned small businesses with one-time grants to help them sustain and grow their community impact.
Five military-connected small businesses received grants through the program, powered by the FedEx Founder's Fund, at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Dover, Delaware's Rail Haus—a veteran-owned restaurant and beer garden—received $25,000, with four other businesses each receiving $10,000. The grant program has awarded more than $160,000 in grants to 15 military-connected businesses.
Veteran- and military spouse-owned businesses generate over $1 trillion in annual revenue and employ millions of Americans. Targeted investment in these entrepreneurs strengthens local economies from the ground up.
“We see the difference that they are making in their communities each and every day,” said Eric Eversole, President of Hiring Our Heroes. “We are honored to help recognize them and play a small role in celebrating their success, and we look forward to seeing that continued growth for years to come.”
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Verizon Partner to Bolster Small Business Disaster Resiliency
This week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation hosted the 2026 Building Resilience Conference, bringing together corporate leaders, FIFA's head of safety, FEMA officials, state emergency management directors, nonprofits, and small business owners to strengthen America’s preparedness.
During the conference, the Foundation announced a new partnership with Verizon that will help small businesses access tools and resources to better prepare, respond, and recover from natural disasters.
- Verizon will serve as the premier sponsor of the U.S. Chamber Foundation's Small Business Readiness for Resiliency program, helping to scale a grant program that has supported nearly 5,000 businesses through recovery grants.
- The U.S. Chamber Foundation and Verizon will also engage small businesses through Verizon’s Small Business Digital Ready program, an online platform that provides free courses, mentorship, networking, and grants to help business owners build the skills and capacity needed to adapt and grow.
As part of the partnership, the organizations released preliminary findings from a new national survey of small business owners and decision-makers, revealing a confidence-preparedness gap among America’s small businesses. In the coming months, the U.S. Chamber Foundation and Verizon will release the full research findings, along with an analysis of the economic costs of underinvesting in small business resilience.
The Bottom Line
Our work to support small businesses is part of our DNA.
To learn more, visit our Small Business webpage: https://www.uschamber.com/small-business
More Resources for Small Businesses:
About the author
Jen Scungio
Jen Scungio is the Senior Director, Editorial and Digital Media at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
