99% of all businesses in the United States are composed of small businesses, and for the past 20 years, small businesses have accounted for roughly 40% of the United States' GDP--equating to trillions of dollars in economic activity.

Shop Small Saturday began in 2010 when American Express launched Small Business Saturday® to encourage people to support local businesses and the communities they anchor, many of whom at the time were hurting during the economic recession. In 2011, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution in support of Small Business Saturday, and by 2012 officials in all 50 states began to participate; they have every year since.  Since then, U.S. consumers have spent an estimated $184 billion at small businesses on Small Business Saturday® alone. What started as a single day of support has now grown into a year-round global movement, inspiring shoppers everywhere to choose small and strengthen their local economies.

When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and neighborhood by way of paying sales tax. The sales tax money is used to support public schools, parks, roads, and sidewalks, as well as fund public service workers, like firefighters. 
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Small businesses are deeply engaged in their communities, so, supporting a small business supports your local community. According to the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Index, nearly all small businesses owners agree that community engagement is important for their business—and are actively engaged in giving back in several ways—including hosting or sponsoring community events, donating to local charities, and forming partnerships with other local businesses.  

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. They create jobs, fuel innovation, and keep our communities strong. By designating a day in their honor, we are reminded that these businesses rely on our patronage during critical consumer shopping seasons as well as year-round.

Read more about Small Business Saturday and its impact on small businesses nationwide from our data & information source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

#BuyLakeland

The U.S. Chamber has delivered a coalition letter to Members of Congress calling for comprehensive permitting reform.  You can find the letter posted on their website here.  529 organizations that signed this letter.
 
Modernizing permitting systems will empower communities and businesses to invest in infrastructure that grows the economy, creates good-paying jobs, and improves quality of life. The coalition is united around four key principles:
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• Predictability: Clear timelines and scope for project reviews.
• Efficiency: Improved interagency coordination to optimize resources.
• Transparency: Accessible visibility into project milestones and schedules.
• Stakeholder Input: Consistent opportunities for input from all relevant parties.

Florida’s property tax system generated $55.18 billion in 2024, funding schools, law enforcement, and local infrastructure. With lawmakers considering additional tax relief proposals for 2026 — including property tax reform or repeal — it’s important to understand how the system works and what changes could mean for businesses and communities.
 
To help answer these questions, the Florida Chamber developed the Florida Property Tax Primer: An Overview of Florida’s Property Tax System and Other Tax Revenue. This nonpartisan resource provides plain-language insights for Chamber members, lawmakers, and stakeholders.
 
Inside, you’ll find:

• How local property taxes are structured in Florida.
• Key differences between homestead and non-homestead properties.
• A breakdown of current collections and who pays the largest share.
• Constitutional and legislative considerations for reform.
• Scenarios outlining potential fiscal trade-offs of repeal or relief.

See the full report below.

As Florida advances toward becoming a Top 10 global economy by 2030, a major factor in achieving this goal is ensuring Florida’s workforce possesses the essential literacy skills to meet the demands of an evolving job market.

The Florida Chamber Foundation’s report, 2025 State of 3rd Grade Reading Proficiency in Florida, provides a comprehensive look at statewide and county-level data trends, demographic disparities, and the direct link between early learning and workforce outcome. 

This research and the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Business Alliance for Early Learning Project is supported by the Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning Advisory Board and the Florida Chamber Foundation Community Development Partnership Council. ​Read the full report below:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) by both the House and Senate, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Suzanne P. Clark issued a statement praising the legislation’s lasting, pro-growth tax reforms for American businesses and workers, as it heads to the president’s desk. 

Why it matters: The bill will prevent one of the largest tax increases in U.S. history, which would have occurred at the end of 2025 when major portions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) were set to expire. A stable, pro-growth tax code will foster an environment where businesses can invest, innovate, and grow, benefiting workers, families, and the broader economy.

“The final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is a landmark accomplishment. We applaud Congressional leaders for coming together to deliver meaningful, long-term tax relief for workers and businesses across the country. By laying the groundwork for sustained economic growth and enhancing America’s global competitiveness, this legislation provides businesses the certainty they need to invest long-term—driving productivity and raising wages for workers. 
“We commend the lawmakers who were instrumental in advancing this comprehensive legislation and look forward to its prompt enactment.”

​Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

Legislation to expand access to the School Readiness Program has been filed and the Senate bill, SB 1382, will be heard today in the Senate Education PreK - 12 Committee. This marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Florida’s School Readiness Program, the state’s child care tuition assistance program, meets the needs of working families and supports the state’s long-term economic competitiveness. These bills align with our Chamber's commitment to strengthening Lakeland's workforce by expanding access to quality early learning opportunities.

HB 859 – Enhancing Transparency & Efficiency in School Readiness, and SB 1382 – Expanding Access to School Readiness Programs

HB 859, sponsored by Representative Chase Tramont, and SB 1382, sponsored by Senator Alexis Calatayud, refine eligibility rules, prioritization, and funding distribution within Florida’s School Readiness Program. It ensures a more accurate measure of economic needs and increases efficiency in serving families. The bills require that early learning coalitions actively enroll children from the waiting list, ensuring that more families can have access to critical early learning opportunities that build a strong foundation for lifelong success.

These bills also reinforce the importance of early learning as a workforce issue by expanding access to School Readiness programs for economically disadvantaged households. With early childhood education playing an essential role in developing both cognitive and non-cognitive skills, these bills strengthen Florida’s position as a leader in preparing the next generation of workers while supporting families in need.

HB 859 and SB 1382 will:

• Improve access by shifting eligibility from the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to State Median Income (SMI), better reflecting the financial realities of Florida’s working families.
• Enhance accountability through stronger performance tracking for kindergarten readiness outcomes.
• Increase transparency and efficiency by establishing clearer guidelines for eligibility and funding distribution.

The Lakeland Chamber recognizes that access to high-quality early childhood education is not just an educational priority but also a workforce necessity. A strong early learning system directly impacts our economic future by improving school readiness, reducing future remediation costs, and ensuring a steady pipeline of talent to keep Florida competitive.

In a new policy research report informed by the Florida Business Alliance for Early Learning Project, the Florida Chamber Foundation makes the data-driven case for how a shift to State Median Income as the eligibility measure for School Readiness could be a game-changer for Florida’s workforce and economy. Explore the report on our blog.

​Take the Survey

​Several immigration bills have been filed this year that would require all Florida private employers to use the federal E-Verify system, increase penalties for noncompliance, and include other provisions that could be problematic for Florida businesses. Under current Florida law, employers with more than 25 employees are required to use E-Verify, and employers with less than 25 employees can choose to use the I-9 employment eligibility form or E-Verify. Proponents of the legislation argue these measures are necessary due to the federal government’s prior failure to secure the nation’s borders and that mandatory E-Verify will prevent access to these jobs which are an incentive for someone to be in the United States illegally.

The Florida Chamber is gathering employer feedback to better understand how these proposed changes could impact Florida's business community. With this year’s state proposals under consideration, they are requesting feedback by completing a quick 4-question survey.  Your input will help inform their advocacy efforts and ensure lawmakers consider the real-world effects on employers. 

Take the Survey

UPDATED 3/2/2025:
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"The Treasury Department is announcing today that, with respect to the Corporate Transparency Act, not only will it not enforce any penalties or fines associated with the beneficial ownership information reporting rule under the existing regulatory deadlines, but it will further not enforce any penalties or fines against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies or their beneficial owners after the forthcoming rule changes take effect either. The Treasury Department will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only. Treasury takes this step in the interest of supporting hard-working American taxpayers and small businesses and ensuring that the rule is appropriately tailored to advance the public interest."

Source: U.S. Department of the Treasury

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​The Corporate Transparency Act’s (CTA) beneficial ownership reporting requirements are back on.

What happened: A federal court has lifted the injunction that was preventing the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) from enforcing Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements under the CTA.

Now, after numerous delays pending legal challenges, certain small business now have to file their paperwork starting as early as March, according to an update FinCEN shared:

"For the vast majority of reporting companies, the new deadline to file an initial, updated, and/ or corrected BOI report is now March 21, 2025. FinCEN will provide an update before then of any further modification of this deadline, recognizing that reporting companies may need additional time to comply with their BOI reporting obligations once this update is provided."

What is the CTA?
The CTA was enacted by Congress on January 1, 2021, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act.  The CTA included significant reforms to anti-money laundering laws and is intended to help prevent and combat money laundering, terrorist financing, corruption, and tax fraud.  

Under the act, small businesses in the United States were required to file beneficial ownership information reports (BOIR) with the Department of the Treasury by January 1. This deadline was on hold due to federal court rulings.

In February 2025, a bill that would provide a one-year delay for small businesses from having to report their beneficial ownership information under the CTA passed the House of Representatives and was sent to the Senate. The U.S. Chamber sent a Key Vote Letter to the House supporting H.R. 736, the Protect Small Business from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025.

Failure to submit the BOIR paperwork puts small business owners at risk of criminal penalties, imprisonment, and fines up to $10,000.

How to Comply
Click here to download the U.S. Chamber's Guide, Complying with the Corporate Transparency Act: A Guide for Small Businesses.

​Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce