At our September Good Day Metro South program, small business leaders gathered for a session packed with practical insights on growing their businesses and navigating new opportunities at both the state and federal level.
Naomi Berlin, Assistant Secretary for Business Growth with Massachusetts’ Executive Office of Economic Development, introduced the State’s new “Business Front Door” portal, a concierge-style resource designed to help entrepreneurs start, scale, and grow their businesses. She provided a walkthrough of how users can log in and explore resources at Mass.gov/BFD, including:
- Biz-M-Power: grants that help small businesses fund expansions, equipment, or facility improvements.
- Workforce Training Fund Express Program: reimburses small businesses for employee training costs, up to $15,000 per year.
- Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP): provides tax credits to businesses that create new jobs through investment projects in Massachusetts.
Business Front Door offers a full concierge service, so you’re not stuck clicking through endless links. You’ll be connected with a real expert — a personal Team MA Navigator, your dedicated point of contact, who takes the time to understand your business and match you with the programs and resources you need to succeed. Sign up for this free service at Mass.gov/BFD to get started.
Following Naomi, Tom Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Small Business Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, provided an overview of the newly enacted “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” and its implications for small businesses. He explained how to leverage the new tax law through a step-by-step guide, highlighting key provisions, including:
- Permanently Claiming the 20% Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction: Eligible sole proprietors, partners, and S corporation shareholders can now permanently deduct 20% of their QBI.
- Immediate Deduction of Qualifying Research & Experimental (R&E) Expenses: Businesses with domestic R&E spending, especially those with average annual gross receipts of $31 million or less, can deduct 100% of qualifying R&E expenses this year on their 2025 tax return.
- Increased Section 179 Expensing: The new tax law more than doubles the maximum amount that a small business may immediately deduct under section 179 to $2.5 million, with a phase-out threshold of $4 million.
- Enhanced Employer-Provided Child Care Credit: Businesses providing employee child care can claim a tax credit of up to $600,000 and 50% of qualified child care expenses if their gross receipts are $31 million or less.
- Enhanced Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Exclusion: Investors in qualifying small C corporations can exclude a greater amount of capital gain realized on the sale or exchange of stock held for more than five years.
For a comprehensive breakdown and actionable steps, read the full guide here: https://www.uschamber.com/assets/documents/Small-Business-Guide-to-New-Tax-Law.pdf You can read more in this article from the U.S. Chamber – Navigating the New Tax Law: What Small Businesses Need to Know
A big thank-you to our sponsors, Rockland Trust and United Way of Greater Plymouth County, for making this informative session possible. Michael Cassata, CEPA, First VP, Business Owner Advisory Strategist at Rockland Trust, and Dennis Carman, CEO of United Way of Greater Plymouth County, joined our event emcee, Sue Joss, for an engaging conversation highlighting their organizations’ ongoing support for local businesses and community growth.
Programs like Business Front Door and the new federal tax law offer real, actionable opportunities for small businesses to grow and thrive — and events like Good Day Metro South help connect business leaders directly with the experts and resources they need to succeed.
View more photos on flickr! Photos courtesy of Rich Morgan Photography. Couldn’t make the event? Don’t worry, we recorded it for you – thanks BCA! (check back soon)