All articles tagged with #small business
Democrats are pressing for about $1,700 per U.S. household in tariff refunds, backed by state governors and a Senate bill to reimburse duties via Customs, arguing tariffs harmed consumers and small businesses after the Supreme Court ruled most tariffs illegal; however, the refund process remains unclear and could take up to 18 months, with funds potentially issued to businesses first and passed along to consumers.
Learning Resources, an Illinois toy maker, paid more than $10 million in tariffs after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Chinese goods; the Supreme Court ruled the tariffs illegal in Learning Resources v. Trump, a decision the company says should lead to refunds and underscores how tariff policy can hurt small businesses and supply chains.
Gov. Bob Ferguson signaled support for a 9.9% tax on income over $1 million but would not back any income tax for individuals earning less than $1 million, insisting any bill must return significant revenue to Washington families and small businesses. He urged expanding the Working Families Tax Credit, broadening essential-item sales exemptions, and adding a biannual sales-tax holiday as the millionaire’s tax progresses from the Senate to the House; he did not commit to veto scenarios and highlighted the need for affordability measures as the session nears its March 12 deadline.
A string of cold snaps and winter storms across the United States has driven a surge in firewood and manufactured log sales, with suppliers in Nashville, New York, and North Carolina reporting record demand and longer delivery wait times as households seek warmth.
LA County's new report links federal immigration enforcement to economic vulnerability in immigrant communities, identifying ZIP 91402 as the most targeted and showing widespread small-business losses, fear-driven declines in foot traffic, and that undocumented workers account for about 17% of the county's economy and nearly $240 billion in output.
Trump’s cuts to climate and other science funding have reduced federal contracts and funding for research, pushing small science-driven firms to lay off workers, seek nonfederal clients, and cope with stalled SBIR and indirect-cost cap changes as lawmakers debate the next science budget.
Molly Culver, owner of Molly Oliver Flowers in Brooklyn, keeps her floral business afloat by reinvesting earnings and drawing a tight salary of about $23,000 while dipping into savings. She lives in a $600-per-month room in Ditmas Park with roommates, spends part of the year in her mother’s Connecticut home to save on rent, drives a used Prius, and groceries around $100 a week. She recently opened a new floral studio with a $2,800 monthly rent share and aspires to make $75,000 a year, illustrating how New Yorkers balance passion and cost in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
The Leicester-based maker of Early Days and Baypod baby shoes, famed for Prince George, warns it may close as rising overheads and a lull in demand bite the business; after a golden spell when royal exposure boosted orders, the firm now employs about 10 of its former 100+ staff and is seeking buyers, with some inquiries potentially moving production overseas.
A Richfield, Minnesota restaurant owner says ICE activity near Minneapolis is forcing staff to miss shifts out of fear, pushing him to cover long hours and trim operations, even closing for a day, while sales suffer and the business struggles to keep workers safe.
Democrats in Colorado are pushing three bills to curb consumer costs: requiring delivery apps to display in-store prices, banning price hikes in captive-audience settings (stadiums, hospitals, airports) to match local averages, and prohibiting differential pricing by producers to favor large retailers, with enforcement by the attorney general. The measures face opposition from business groups and Republicans, and are expected to be introduced in the coming weeks as lawmakers seek to curb what they see as price manipulation in the market.
Somali-owned shops inside Minneapolis' Karmel Mall have largely closed or slowed to a crawl as ICE raids linked to Operation Metro Surge spook customers and vendors. Business owners report steep revenue losses, and fear has spread to citizens who avoid the area, highlighting the Somali community's central economic and social role in the city amid enforcement efforts.
A national survey finds small businesses plan to hire fewer recent college graduates in 2026, with onboarding time and training needs limiting their ability to take on new hires; housing costs, commuting, and local pay prevent some graduates from accepting entry-level roles, especially in cities. Growth is projected in healthcare and construction, but many roles still require experience or apprenticeships rather than a four-year degree. For grads, practical experience, strong professional skills, and local networking—via internships, co-ops, and short-term projects—are crucial to stand out and land on-site, entry-level opportunities.
Kathy Fang, daughter of House of Nanking’s founders, left a corporate career at Merrill Lynch (and later Johnson & Johnson) to return to the family restaurant, publish a cookbook, and become a TV personality, helping to brand the legacy while keeping the business small and rooted in San Francisco’s Chinatown; her parents initially resisted, but the venture now aims to be multigenerational despite pandemic challenges and celebrity attention.
A Black- and women-owned plant nursery in Southeast Portland, Birds & Bees Nursery, is closing after 14 years due to financial difficulties exacerbated by recent challenging years, with owners seeking community support to sell remaining inventory and settle debts.
A small business owner in Pittsburgh describes how recent tariffs, especially on fabric imports, have dramatically increased costs, created uncertainty, and threatened the viability of her shop, highlighting the broader impact of trade policies on small retailers and local communities.