Small businesses get a big shout-out in Washington
A Nation Honors Its Economic Backbone
Every year, the U.S. pauses to celebrate the unsung heroes of the economy—small businesses. This year, the spotlight fell on Beacon Commercial Door and Lock, a Salt Lake City-based company run by third-generation owner Chad Riches, recognized for safeguarding homes and businesses across Utah. The event wasn’t just an awards ceremony—it was a tribute to 36 million small businesses that collectively drive nearly half of all U.S. economic activity.
Tax Cuts vs. Tariff Turmoil
The ceremony took a political turn when the president hailed last year’s $7,000 average tax savings for 12 million small businesses, nicknaming the legislation the “Great Big Beautiful Tax Cut and Regulation Cut Bill.” But beneath the celebration, tensions simmered.
- Some business owners face rising costs due to tariffs on imported goods, with the Supreme Court later striking down parts of the tariffs as unconstitutional.
- A Georgia owner defended the tariffs, arguing they brought jobs back to American soil.
- Others in the room grappled with how sudden policy shifts could destabilize their operations.
“Small businesses are often caught between competing economic messages,” one attendee noted.
Wages, Jobs, and the "Made in America" Push
The administration took aim at recent policies it claims stifled worker wages, with the president asserting wages were higher under his leadership than the previous administration’s. Meanwhile, officials doubled down on “Made in America”, positioning domestic production as a catalyst for economic revival.
But as small business owners left the ceremony, one question lingered: At what cost?
