Small Business

The Small Business Office provides a supportive ecosystem where small businesses and entrepreneurs can thrive by providing access to valuable resources, knowledge and connections. We know these elements are crucial to success in the competitive world of small business.

 

Launched the Small Business Resource Page!

    • Since its launch in April 2024, the page has had 2,000+ active users, with over 3,000 views! Please share the page.

Received Network Designation from Innovate Alabama along with a $20,000 grant.

  • Grant was used to conduct a study on our entrepreneurial and venture capital ecosystems.
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Small Business Resources page


On our page, we share information on programs that are offered through the Chamber and other organizations. Our goal is to share all of these resources in one place so you can find ones that are best suited for you.

Monthly Programming


We hosted 1,792 business professionals at 41 monthly programs! 

This year, professional development programming showed the most growth! 

  • Delivered 26 Professional Development programs. The growth was attributed to the increased number of presentations by commands from Redstone Arsenal including AMCOM, SMDC and MDA, as well as Cyber Huntsville and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). 
  • Hosted 11 Networking programs (5 Breakfast & Biz, 6 Business After Hours) at venues across the city to include Calhoun Community College, BeeZr and the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra.
    • Partnered with a local small business (Meister) to Beta test their software, making the rotation schedule for Breakfast & Biz (think speed networking) more effective. 
  • Hosted 4 C-Suite presentations, a valuable mentoring tool, where attendees gain unique insights into the journeys of top leaders. 
    • 100% of attendees report gaining professional insight!
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Professional Development Series


Topics included:

Doing Business With The FBI, The U.S. Department of the Treasury, Huntsville Utilities, MDA; Cybersecurity Forum; The Power of AI; Excel and QuickBooks classes

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Breakfast & Biz


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Business After Hours


Event Locations:

Feb. 15: The Venue at Oak Place
March 14: Propst Arena
April 11: Huntsville Symphony Orchestra
June 13: Stars and Strikes
Aug. 29: BeeZr
Oct. 15: Huntsville Country Club

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C-Suite Speaker Series


Featured speakers:

Feb. 8: LTG Neil Thurgood (Ret.)
July 23: Ellen Didier
Sept. 24: Frank Williams
Dec. 17: Dr. Annie Saylor

Signature Events


Best Places to Work® reached 97% of its registration goal! 103 companies competed for 15 awards

  • 100% of participants indicated they will participate again
  • A new Wellness Award is being added in 2025

Small Business Awards Gala SOLD OUT with 1,000+ attendees

  • 30% increase in applications this year with 160 companies and individuals competing for an award
  • 3 winners went on to compete in the state Business Council of Alabama (BCA)/Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama’s (CCAA) small business awards in Birmingham, with one, InSight Strategic Solutions, earning an honorable mention.
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Best Places to Work®


Our annual Best Places to Work® Award luncheon was held on on May 14, 2024. Companies win these awards based on employee surveys, and it's a serious matter of pride to win. Results are tabulated by Quantum Workplace.
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Small Business Awards Gala


We hosted the 39th Annual Small Business Awards Gala on September 13, 2024. We distributed 20 awards this year. The biggest winner of the night was Dr. Karockas Watkins, pictured here in the center. He won the Russell G. Brown Executive Leadership Award. It is presented jointly by UAH and Alabama A&M University.