Texas Treasure Business Awards: Honoring the Businesses That Make Texas, Texas
Texas is the quintessential state for business.
A 2024 Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas study reported that Texas was number 1 in relocations of businesses from 2000 to 2019 (the study period), with
more than 25,000 establishments relocated to Texas from other states from 2010–19, bringing more than 281,000 jobs. At the same time, just over 18,000 establishments left the state, costing about 179,000 jobs. The result: a net migration of 7,232 firms and an addition of nearly 103,000 jobs.
As a result, Texas gained more jobs than any other state, while California lost the most jobs on the opposite side. Since 2020, 200 companies have relocated their headquarters to Texas, according to Business Insider, including Tesla and Chevron. (Also see previous articles, The Texas Model, Texas vs. California, and Governor Greg Abbott.)
The media are quick to talk about relocations, but what about the businesses that were established in Texas decades ago and have been successful ever since?
Twenty years ago today, on June 17, 2005, a bill passed by the 79th Texas Legislature that aimed to do just that officially became law. Senate Bill 920 (79-R) created the Texas Treasure Awards, which enabled the Texas Historical Commission to present this recognition to businesses that had been in continued operation in Texas for at least 50 years (special recognition can also be given to Texas businesses operating for at least 75 years, at least 100 years, and at least 125 years).
The Texas Historical Commission focuses on historic preservation, which generally targets monuments or historical buildings, rather than operating businesses. SB 920, authored by Senator Leticia Van de Putte and sponsored by Representative Charles “Doc” Anderson, aimed to honor
businesses that have been in existence in Texas for a lengthy, specified period of time [and] that have remained committed to Texas for generations and have helped to create jobs and stimulate economic growth.
Here's how it works: you can nominate your own business or nominate someone else’s business (as long as you have the permission of the business owner) if the business has been operating continuously (without substantial interruption) for at least 50 years, is owned by Texans and/or operated in Texas, and is an independent business (not a franchise of a bigger, national group). Once the nomination is accepted by the executive director of the Texas Historical Commission, the certificate is also signed by the senator and representative of the district where the business that receives the award primarily operates.
Since the creation of the award, more than 500 businesses have been recognized, according to the Texas Historical Commission—such a simple yet lovely way to acknowledge the importance of local businesses, big and small (among the award recipients are HEB and Black’s BBQ), in our communities.
By acknowledging local businesses while they are still in operation,
we honor them as places of living history and are able to record their stories and ensure their legacy for generations to come.
–Texas Historical Commission
You can find the information you need to nominate a business here, and many examples of businesses that received the award there.
I was unaware of the existence of this award when I first started Achievement, TX. I am not surprised, though: the Texan entrepreneurial spirit was essential to the foundation and growth of Texas, so it makes sense that we would recognize our local businesses as an integral part of the history of our communities and of what makes Texas, Texas.
Sources
Are Businesses Historic Sites? (n.d.). Texas Time Travel. https://texastimetravel.com/travel-by-theme/historic-businesses/
Hart, J. (2025, February 27). The major companies which have relocated to Texas, from Tesla to Chevron. Business Insider. https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-moving-to-texas
Orrenius, P., Pranger, A., Zavodny, M., and Parra, O. (2024, February 2). Hang your hat in Texas: State remains a leader in firm relocations. Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. https://www.dallasfed.org/research/swe/2024/swe2402
SB 920. History. 79th Texas Legislature. (2005). https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=79R&Bill=SB920
SB 920 Bill Analysis. Senate Research Center. 79th Texas Legislature. (2005, March 31). https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/79R/analysis/pdf/SB00920I.pdf
Texas Treasure Business Awards. (n.d.). Texas Historical Commission. https://thc.texas.gov/preserve/tourism-and-economic-development/texas-treasure-business-awards