We are thrilled to announce that Louisville Beauty Academy has been recognized as one of America’s Top 100 Small Businesses for 2025 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce through their prestigious CO—100 Awards program. This honor is not only a celebration of our academy’s hard work but also a recognition of the transformative impact we’ve made on our students, our community, and the state of Kentucky.
Selected From a Nationwide Pool of 12,500 Businesses
The 2025 CO—100 is an exclusive, highly competitive recognition. Over 12,500 businesses across the United States applied for consideration, and only 100 businesses were chosen. Louisville Beauty Academy is proud to be Kentucky’s sole representative among these national honorees.
This selection underscores the significance of our work, positioning our academy alongside America’s most innovative, resilient, and community-focused small businesses. It is a testament to the dedication of our leadership, instructors, partners, and students who have collectively built a school that not only survives but thrives in an evolving economy.
Honored in the “Enduring Businesses” Category
Louisville Beauty Academy was recognized in the Enduring Business category. This category celebrates organizations that demonstrate long-term growth, sustainability, and resilience, thriving over a decade or more despite challenges in the market and industry shifts.
For us, this recognition validates our commitment to providing accessible, debt-free education in cosmetology, esthetics, nail technology, shampoo styling, and instructor certification. As Kentucky’s only beauty school offering flexible, pay-as-you-go tuition in English, Vietnamese, and Spanish, we continue to break barriers for immigrants, women, and underserved individuals seeking professional licensure.
Louisville Beauty Academy’s Impact on Kentucky
Since our founding, Louisville Beauty Academy has:
- Graduated nearly 2,000 licensed professionals, empowering them to pursue meaningful careers in the beauty industry.
- Contributed up to $50 million annually to Kentucky’s economy through the success of our graduates and partnerships with local businesses.
- Provided hands-on, real-world training with digital learning tools and free state board practice tests aligned with PSI standards, ensuring students are fully prepared to succeed.
- Partnered with local salons, workforce agencies, and community organizations to support job placement and upward mobility for every graduate.
Our academy was founded by an immigrant entrepreneur who deeply understands the barriers new Americans and adult learners face. From day one, our mission has been clear: prioritize accessibility and student success over financial burden.
Celebrating Our Community and Partners
This recognition is not ours alone. It reflects the support and collaboration of:
- Our students, who bring their passion and determination every day.
- Our instructors and staff, who provide world-class training and mentorship.
- Local salons and employers, who offer real-world experience and job opportunities.
- Greater Louisville Inc. and community partners, who champion workforce development and inclusive education.
Together, we have built a mission-driven institution that empowers students, strengthens Kentucky’s workforce, and contributes to the state’s economic growth.
Looking Forward
The CO—100 recognition motivates us to continue innovating, expanding, and supporting students from all walks of life. We look forward to participating in the CO—100 VIP Forum and Gala in Washington, D.C., this October, connecting with other top small business leaders from across the country.
This honor reaffirms that Louisville Beauty Academy is more than a school—it is a hub of opportunity, empowerment, and economic impact. We are proud to bring this recognition home to Kentucky and will continue to build a brighter, more inclusive future for our students and our community.
Based on the 2025 CO—100 list, the 100 winning businesses came from 35 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C.
Here’s the list of all states represented this year:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky (Louisville Beauty Academy is the only Kentucky honoree)
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
- District of Columbia (D.C.)
This confirms that Louisville Beauty Academy represents Kentucky alone, making this achievement even more meaningful as it puts both Louisville and Kentucky on the national stage.
REFERENCES
https://www.uschamber.com/co/profiles/louisville-beauty-academy
https://www.uschamber.com/co/co-100/enduring-businesses
