--- title: "Fresh Coat McAllen Named 2026 SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year" url: https://burnaze.com/article/36158a96-7d06-47ba-b239-f74938b3fa73 source: "1851 Franchise" original_url: https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/mcallen-veteran-owned-business-award-2732308 category: "Painting" industry: "Home Services" segment: "Painting" published: 2026-05-29T22:17:39.000Z modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:11.059Z image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/1780093934_feature.png --- # Fresh Coat McAllen Named 2026 SBA Veteran-Owned Business of the Year **TL;DR:** Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen, owned by U.S. Army veteran Gilbert "Gil" Perez, has been recognized as the 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year for the Lower Rio Grande Valley District by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Perez was selected for his leadership, dedication, and influence as a small business owner. *originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2026-05-29. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/mcallen-veteran-owned-business-award-2732308).* ## Story **MCALLEN, Texas** — Fresh Coat Painters of McAllen has been recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration, Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office, as the 2026 Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year for the Lower Rio Grande Valley District. Owner Gilbert “Gil” Perez, a U.S. Army veteran, first pursued franchise ownership following military retirement as he searched for a way to build a business of his own while doing valuable work in his own community. “I’m honored to receive this recognition from the Small Business Administration, not only for myself but for the teams and community members who have made it possible,” Perez said. “Hard work and service have always been a way of life for me. I took those values to the Army, and I still use them today with every Fresh Coat project. Being named Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year is a testament to the fact that, when you keep your values front and center and commit yourself to your community, the reward is immeasurable.” Perez was selected from business owners across the district, which spans 14 Texas counties, for his leadership, dedication and influence as a small business owner. In addition to his own resilience in business, Perez is celebrated for the commitment he has shown to positively impacting the community. Over his time as a Fresh Coat franchise owner, Perez has served the McAllen community with quality, reliable painting services, and by thinking bigger, has been able to have a real impact beyond his organization. As a business owner, Perez is able to create opportunities for others, and he takes great pride in working alongside others who prioritize service and share his family-focused values. That commitment to service extends beyond his business, as Perez serves on the Board of Directors for NHPO-RGV, a professional organization dedicated to promoting enterprise and education for its members in partnership with the community**.** “After two decades of service, I was looking for another way to find purpose in my community,” Perez said. “Fresh Coat was my pathway, and I’m so proud of what I’ve built in McAllen. As a veteran, I know what it means to be a part of something bigger than myself, and business ownership has given me a platform to not only provide quality service but to become truly ingrained in the McAllen community, which has supported us every step of the way.” Fresh Coat Painters, the residential and commercial painting franchise under the Strategic Franchising Systems umbrella, offers a low-cost, high-margin business model that gives entrepreneurs from all walks of life the chance to become successful business owners in the communities they serve. Since starting in 2004, Fresh Coat has expanded to over 190 franchise locations nationwide. Thanks to its unparalleled professionalism and affordable business model, it has become one of the leading concepts in the booming residential and commercial painting segment. With continued year-over-year growth, Fresh Coat is well on its way to achieving its overall goal of becoming a truly iconic painting brand. ## Entities - 1851 Franchise (publication) - Home Services (sector) - franchise ownership (topic) - Fresh Coat Painters (company) - community service (topic) - Strategic Franchising Systems (company) - Small Business Administration (regulator) - veteran-owned business (topic) - small business administration (topic) - McAllen, Texas (location) - Gilbert "Gil" Perez (person) --- Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/freshcoat/mcallen-veteran-owned-business-award-2732308). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/36158a96-7d06-47ba-b239-f74938b3fa73).