Small businesses get a big shout-out in Washington

Every year, the U. S. sets aside a week to recognize the millions of small businesses that keep the economy moving. This time around, one Utah company stood out among the honorees. Beacon Commercial Door and Lock, a Salt Lake City business run by third-generation owner Chad Riches, was singled out for its role in keeping homes and offices secure across the state. The event wasn’t just about handing out awards; it was framed as a celebration of the 36 million small businesses that together produce nearly half of all U. S. economic activity. During the ceremony, the president highlighted a major tax cut passed last year that gave 12 million small businesses an average savings of more than $7, 000. The bill was jokingly renamed by the president himself, who called it the “Great Big Beautiful Tax Cut and Regulation Cut Bill. ” Yet not everyone is celebrating. Some business owners have seen costs rise because of tariffs on imported goods, and the Supreme Court later blocked parts of those tariffs as unconstitutional.One owner from Georgia praised the tariff strategy anyway, saying it helped bring jobs back to American soil. Others in the room might have wondered how sudden policy shifts affect their bottom line. What does seem clear is that small businesses often find themselves caught between competing economic messages. The administration also took aim at recent policies they claim hurt workers’ wages. The president argued that wages were higher under his watch than during the previous administration. Meanwhile, officials emphasized a return to “Made in America, ” suggesting that local production was speeding up.