LEXINGTON, Ky. — At today’s Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by Forcht Bank, DV8 Kitchen & Bakery was named the 2025 Small Business of the Year. Other award winners included BACK Construction (Business Success) and the Hope Center (Nonprofit Community Impact).
The week-long celebration featured Facebook Live segments at each award winner, a panel discussion with representatives of the award recipients, a Night at Legends Field honoring local business as part of the 250Lex celebration, and an awards luncheon.
Opened in 2017, DV8 Kitchen is a social enterprise giving second chance employment opportunities to people in early stages of recovery. DV8 Kitchen partners with recovery homes to employ residents ready to enter the workforce. DV8 believes that everyone in recovery can find meaningful employment, while also reducing the stigma of addiction. Because many of the staff came from incarceration, DV8 Kitchen’s Vocational Training Foundation was formed to help provide the resources they needed…