Small enterprises in Sherman and Denison are reporting rising customer numbers, a trend supported by recent data indicating strong regional performance. CoworkingCafe has ranked the Sherman-Denison metropolitan area as the 58th best small metro in the United States for small business activity.
The region also demonstrated economic stability with an unemployment rate of 1.9 percent, placing it sixth among the small metros evaluated in the study. Local leaders attribute this growth to a concentration of businesses located within historic spaces that naturally attract pedestrians.
Sarah McRae, who serves as the tourism and Main Street manager for Sherman, noted that these concentrated areas provide built-in visibility for new and existing shops. She emphasized that the unique character of the historic buildings helps draw people into specific districts.
Employment figures in the downtown core reflect this expansion. Donna Dow, the director of Denison Main Street, stated that the downtown area alone supports 1,101 full-time positions and 373 part-time roles. She indicated that special events are critical drivers for sales, often resulting in the busiest days for merchants.
Business owners also value the visibility provided by their locations. Jenna Toland of The ROI Guys shared that customers frequently discover the firm simply by walking past its storefront. Many patrons express surprise upon learning the business is locally owned after seeing it in person.
