KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The U.S. Chamber unveiled the 2026 CO—100 list, recognizing 100 exceptional small businesses.
- Lifting the LNG export pause preserved $1.4 trillion in GDP and over half a million jobs.
Meet the 2026 CO—100, America's Top 100 Small Businesses
The U.S. Chamber and
CO—, its award-winning digital platform for small businesses, has announced the
2026 CO—100, a list celebrating the top 100 small businesses in America.
Details: Selected from more than 12,500 applicants across 35 states and 15 industries, the 2026 honorees generate over $340 million in annual revenue and employ more than 2,500 workers. They are doing it through innovation, spanning tech startups, sustainable manufacturers, creative agencies, and community retailers.
What they're saying: "The CO—100 honorees exemplify what it means to lead with purpose, adapt with agility, and build with vision," said Jeanette Mulvey, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of CO— by the U.S. Chamber. "These entrepreneurs are not only shaping their local communities—they're setting new standards for what's possible in business."
Why it matters: Small businesses drive innovation, create jobs, and help local economies thrive. The
U.S. Chamber serves and supports more than 5 million small businesses through membership, our nationwide federation of state and local chambers, and digital platforms—giving small businesses representation, resources, and a powerful voice at national scale.
Looking ahead: Honorees will gather in Washington, D.C., from October 19-21 for the CO—100 VIP Experience and
Small Business Forum. During the celebration, 10 category winners will receive $2,000 and one company will be named the CO—100 Top Business of the Year and receive $25,000.
Learn More
What a Permanent Pause on New LNG Exports Would Cost America
America nearly left a tremendous economic opportunity on the table. According to a
S&P Global Energy study supported by the U.S. Chamber, making a liquified natural gas (LNG) export pause under the Biden Administration permanent would have cost the country $1.4 trillion in GDP, 555,000 jobs every year, and its place as the world's leading LNG exporter.
Why it matters: By 2031, the U.S. is projected to supply more than one-third of the global LNG market and become America's second-largest next export industry.
- Those gains have spread across the country. Forty-two percent of LNG-related jobs are in manufacturing, construction, finance, logistics, and professional services.
Be smart: Critics predicted LNG exports would spike household energy bills. Instead, prices have remained among the most affordable globally.
- The bigger affordability challenge is infrastructure. In regions like the Northeast, infrastructure bottlenecks rather than LNG exports drive winter price spikes. Targeted infrastructure expansion in the region could reduce peak winter prices by about 20% or more.
Bottom line: Constraining U.S. LNG exports would mean fewer American jobs, less investment, higher energy costs for allies, and greater leverage for adversaries.
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FOUNDED: THE SMALL BUSINESSES THAT BUILT AMERICA
In honor of America's 250th, we celebrate America's entrepreneurs.
Serving New England Homes for Four Generations
Townsend, a Massachusetts-based company, has grown from a heating oil business to a trusted provider of home services across New England.
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