It’s Salute to Small Business Week in Lexington. Here’s who is being honored

Editor’s Note: As Lexington celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com each day throughout 2025 will share interesting facts about our hometown. Compiled by Liz Carey, all are notable moments in the city’s history — some funny, some sad, others heartbreaking or celebratory, and some just downright strange.

Small businesses in Lexington will be recognized this week as part of the city’s year-long celebration of Lexington’s 250th anniversary.

Throughout the week, Commerce Lexington will celebrate local businesses, leading up to a luncheon where the small business of the year will be announced. The organization has recognized the city’s small businesses since 1986.

As part of Lexington Business Month for 250Lex, Mayor Linda Gorton and other city leaders gathered at the Red Mile last week to discuss how Commerce Lexington will recognize small businesses during the week of August 11-15.

“We’re now over halfway through our 250th anniversary, and there’s still so much more to come,” Gorton said. “In August, we are celebrating the legacy of the many local businesses that call Lexington home.”

The impact small businesses have on local economies across the country has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic, Commerce Lexington said, with 19 million new small business applications being submitted in the U.S. since the end of 2020. Small businesses have accounted for 71% of total job growth since 2019.

“Small businesses are woven into the fabric of every part of our community and region, and our Salute to Small Business awards program is a wonderful opportunity for us to say thank you to the risk-takers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who have turned their vision into something special that stands the test of time,” said Bob Quick, Commerce Lexington’s president and CEO.

2025 award winners

This year, Commerce Lexington will honor three different businesses — BACK Construction, DV8 Kitchen & Bakery and the Hope Center. BACK and DV8 Kitchen are both Small Business of the Year Award finalists.

BACK Construction, winner of the Business Success Award, started as a residential framing and barn-building company in 1981 and has grown into a full-service design-build employee-owned firm, specializing in residential remodeling, roofing, handyman services, windows, doors and architectural design.

DV8 Kitchen & Baker will be honored for Achievement in Entrepreneurship. Opened in 2017 to give second-chance employment opportunities to people in the early stages of recovery, the business now partners with recovery homes to provide jobs to their residents who are ready to enter the workforce.

The company opened its second location and a wholesale bakery in 2021. Additionally, the company provides workshops to the community, on topics including second-chance employment and Narcan treatment.

Hope Center will be recognized with the Nonprofit Community Impact Award. It was founded in 1993 and has evolved from being a basic emergency shelter into a multi-faceted organization with more than 30 programs across eight locations. The center focuses on treating the person instead of the problem, resulting in a holistic, long-term approach to recovery.

Last year, the Hope Center launched a new intensive residential treatment program, providing emergency shelter, 124,000 meals and 83,000 items of clothing.

The city, 250Lex and Commerce Lexington will celebrate small businesses in many different ways next week, officials said.

Celebrating businesses throughout the week

Starting on Monday, Commerce Lexington will celebrate BACK Construction, DV8 Kitchen and the Hope Center through social media posts and live interviews on Facebook and Instagram, Mark Turner, Commerce Lexington chief communications officer said.

On August 12, Commerce Lexington will host an event at 46Solutions where the winners will share their stories with attendees, and on August 13, the Lexington Legends will host “Salute to Small Business Night at the Ballpark.” Winners will be honored with a ceremonial first pitch, and small businesses across the city will be able to buy tickets for the night’s game at a discount.

Finally, Commerce Lexington will hold its Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon at the Central Bank Center from noon to 1:30 p.m. where it will announce its 2025 Small Business of the Year. Tickets are $75 per person or $750 for a table of 10 and are available through Commerce Lexington’s website.

Have a question or story idea related to Lexington’s 250-year history? Let us know at 250LexKy@gmail.com.