A downtown destination for local makers, creativity and connection earns top honors for its innovation, community impact and commitment to creating opportunities for others.
The Billings Chamber of Commerce is proud to name Frae Collective the 2026 Business Excellence Award recipient for Small Business of the Year, recognizing the downtown business for its innovative approach to retail, entrepreneurship and community connection.
The annual Billings Chamber Business Excellence Awards celebrate the people and organizations that make Montana’s City a wonderful and forward-focused community. Recipients demonstrate excellence, innovation, community engagement and a commitment to supporting and mentoring others.
For Frae Collective founder Tiffany Miller-O’Brien, those values aren’t simply business principles. They are at the heart of what she has built.
What began with Frae Everyday Goods on Billings west end, has grown into Frae Collective, a unique downtown space that brings together Montana-made and sustainable goods, local artisans, small businesses, creatives and community members.
But walk through the doors of Frae Collective and you’ll quickly discover it is more than a place to shop.
It is a place to connect.
Through programming such as Saturday Sanctuary Yoga, monthly Story Night and other community-centered events, Frae Collective has created a welcoming environment where people can gather, share ideas, express creativity and build relationships. The space has become a meaningful place for people from all walks of life and building an intentional sense of belonging.
Miller-O’Brien has built her business around creating opportunities for others, including local artists, makers, entrepreneurs and individuals who may be overlooked or underserved. By providing a platform for small businesses and creatives to showcase their work and connect with customers, Frae Collective is helping strengthen Billings’ local business and creative ecosystem.
As a woman-led and owned small business, Frae Collective also demonstrates the power of entrepreneurial leadership. Miller-O’Brien leads with authenticity and compassion while creating opportunities for young people and others to gain experience, confidence and a sense of purpose.
Her vision for Frae Collective has also filled a unique niche in downtown Billings: a flexible, collaborative environment where retail, creativity, community gathering and entrepreneurship can coexist.
It is an approach that continues to evolve with the needs of the community.
For the Billings Chamber, that combination of innovation, resilience, strong culture and community impact makes Frae Collective an exceptional example of what a small business can accomplish.
Congratulations to Tiffany Miller-O’Brien at Frae Collective for being named the 2026 Billings Chamber Small Business of the Year.
The Billings Chamber Business Excellence Awards will continue to highlight this year’s outstanding recipients and the people and organizations helping move Montana’s City forward.
Learn more about the 2026 Business Excellence Award recipients and celebrate their accomplishments with us on September 24 at the 2026 Annual Business Celebration.