The Fort Worth Chamber recently brought together 112 volunteers for its Small Business Appreciation Walk, a key initiative that’s part of the Chamber’s ongoing business advocacy efforts. In just one morning, volunteers connected with more than 600 small businesses across the city, listening, learning, and gathering valuable insights into the needs of Fort Worth’s business community.

The Small Business Walk is a reflection of the Chamber’s continued mission to identify issues, solve problems and align resources, resulting in a stronger business climate for all. As the leading voice of business in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation, the Fort Worth Chamber is committed to delivering measurable impact through community-led engagement.

Resource bags were distributed during the visits and included the Fort Worth Homelessness Toolkit, which provides guidance for businesses on how to navigate interactions related to homelessness with empathy and awareness.

While the main reason for the walk is to let small businesses know that they are appreciated for doing business in Fort Worth, it was also about actively listening. Volunteers gathered insights from hundreds of business owners and managers, learning about current challenges, strengths, and areas where additional support is needed. Once all the data has been compiled, the Fort Worth Chamber will release its findings in a report. The feedback helps to inform future programming, policy advocacy, and initiatives.

The Chamber and the City of Fort Worth extend appreciation to several key partners:

• Casa Mañana for serving as a prime location for staging this event.
• Ampersand for providing coffee and pastries, helping to fuel the early morning effort.
• The Small Business Appreciation Walk Executive Planning Committee: Alyssa Al Sabi, Hudson Bell, Pepper Sims, Jazmin Gutierrez, Alexander Chandler and Toan Luong. Their leadership and dedication was instrumental in planning and executing the event.

The Small Business Appreciation Walk is one of many ways the Fort Worth Chamber continues to lead with purpose, engage with the community, and advocate for a strong and vibrant business environment. To learn more about the Fort Worth Chamber’s business retention and expansion efforts, visit www.fortworthchamber.com.