A little rain couldn't stop Fort Worth's volunteers from showing up and showing appreciation. The Fort Worth Chamber, in partnership with the City of Fort Worth’s Economic Development Department, brought together an estimated 130 volunteers for its third annual Small Business Appreciation Walk—our biggest group ever. Despite the weather, the spirit and energy inside Casa Mañana Theatre made it clear that this community shows up for its small businesses. 

Volunteers launched all across the city to connect with small businesses in the Fort Worth Chamber’s North, East, South, West, and Central area councils—delivering goody bags; sharing resources; and reminding business owners and managers that the Fort Worth community is in their corner. 

The morning program was kicked off by Fort Worth Chamber 2026 Chairman of the Board Mike Micallef, who welcomed volunteers and set the tone for the day. Ori Fernandez, representing the City of Fort Worth’s Economic Development team, talked about the importance of small businesses to our city. Brett Bowden, owner of Printed Threads, shared a compelling perspective on why this work matters from a small business owner's point of view. Chamber President and CEO Steve Montgomery stressed the importance of small businesses and thanked Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck and Councilman Michael Crain for taking time to address volunteers and lending their voices to the importance of supporting Fort Worth's small business community. 

Alyssa Alsayyed and Mike Coffey led volunteers through a brief but thorough training, equipping them with the tools to make every interaction count before sending them out into the community. 

Resource bags distributed during visits once again included the Fort Worth Homelessness Toolkit, which provides practical guidance for businesses on navigating homelessness-related interactions with empathy and awareness.  

Cathy Jackson, a senior program manager at DFW Airport, shared that “It was a great experience connecting with all of the small business owners and their employees on our route.  At DFW Airport and in the Business Development Department, we lead with intention and integrity to educate, advocate, and empower the utilization of small business enterprises, and today was a great way for us to help demonstrate that by supporting the Small Business Appreciation Walk.” 

(Photo: Cathy Jackson of DFW Airport and Davonte Ackerman of Madison Reed visiting Camp Bowie Optique) 

A heartfelt thank you goes to the Small Business Appreciation Walk planning committee—Alyssa Alsayyed, Ben Robertson, Jazmin Gutierrez, Pepper Sims, and Phillip Poarch—whose dedication brought this event to life. Thank you as well to the volunteers from the City of Fort Worth Economic Development Department who gave their time setting up the room at Casa Mañana and stuffing goody bags. Finally, a sincere thank you to all the businesses and organizations who generously donated items for those bags. Your contributions were felt by every business we visited. 

This event was held in partnership with the City of Fort Worth Economic Development Department, reflecting a shared commitment to investing in the businesses that make Fort Worth's economy thrive. 

Early Findings: What Fort Worth's Small Businesses Are Telling Us 

The following reflects preliminary data collected as of 2:00 PM on the day of the walk. Survey responses are still coming in, and a full findings report will be released once all data has been compiled. 

The conversations volunteers had across Fort Worth this morning are already painting a meaningful picture. Of the businesses surveyed: 

• 67% reported that sales are increasing compared to last year—a strong indicator of resilience and optimism across Fort Worth's small business community. 

• The majority of businesses plan to stay at their current location, and many are eyeing growth whether through adding employees, expanding their physical footprint, or opening additional locations. 

When asked about their top challenges, small business owners were candid. Traffic and congestion emerged as the number one concern, cited more than any other issue. The economy, the ability to hire skilled labor, profitability, parking, and road conditions were also recurring themes. These are not just talking points—they are actionable insights that continue to directly inform the Chamber's advocacy priorities and future programming. 

Once all volunteer feedback and survey data have been compiled, the Fort Worth Chamber will release a full report on the findings. The Small Business Appreciation Walk is one of many ways the Chamber continues to lead with purpose, engage with the community, and advocate for a strong and vibrant business environment. To learn more about the Chamber's business retention and expansion efforts, visit www.fortworthchamber.com. If you are a business owner or leader, consider taking a few moments to share your business climate observations on our BRE survey here.