JCN Poll: Small Businesses Taking Advantage of Trump Tax Cuts; Opening New Locations, Hiring, Raising Wages360
Joe Raedle; Adam Gray/Bloomberg; Scott Olson/Getty Images
Jerome Hudson
8 Sep 2025140
3:03Job Creators Network, America’s largest small business advocacy group, released fresh polling data this week showing that mere months after President Donald Trump signed the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, “a full 42% of American small businesses plan to raise employee wages/benefits as a result of their tax cut savings, and 91% plan to raise wages/benefits, expand, hire, or reinvest in their communities,” the group said.
The national poll, conducted by Scott Rasmussen and John McLaughlin, which surveyed 400 small business owners from August 1st to the 20th, says 88 percent of small businesses plan to take advantage of the tax cuts passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Job Creators Network is highlighting entrepreneurs from across the country sharing stories of how the tax cuts and investment act is already a big boon to their respective businesses.
The group is touting the following success stories:

• Carlos Gazitua, who owns Miami-based Sergio’s Restaurants, is opening two new locations and hiring 100 workers over the next year.
• Nicole Wolter, owner of HM Manufacturing in Illinois, is investing $645,000 in new machines and hiring five new team members.

“America’s small business community is clearly a big winner following the passage of President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” Elaine Parker, President of the Job Creators Network Foundation, said in a statement. “The polling proves that tax cuts are already incentivizing job creation and expansion among small businesses, which will help to drive economic opportunity in communities across the country. It’s clear that the tax cuts are working.”

The poll also shows small business owner sentiment surging in terms of the direction of the U.S. economy, the current climate for small businesses, the direction of climate for small businesses. It also asks respondents if they are optimistic or pessimistic that President Trump and his administration will help small businesses.

Respondents were also asked which specific tax incentives in the new law they are taking advantage of, ranging from the permanent 20 percent tax deduction, expensing for equipment, permanent lower rates, expand interest deduction, and expensing for research.
Vice President JD Vance has spent the last several weeks promoting President Trump’s signature second term initiative, touting the law’s investments in immigration enforcement, law enforcement, and support for manufacturers.
Read the polling details here.
Jerome Hudson is Breitbart News Entertainment Editor and author of the book 50 Things They Don’t Want You to Know About Trump. Order your copy today. Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter and instagram@jeromeehudson

Changes to the federal tax code are blowing into the Windy City, and that is good news for some small businesses like mine. Passed as part of Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” pro-growth policies build upon the previous tax cuts legislation passed through Congress in 2017.
The legislation makes the 20% small business tax deduction permanent and locks in lower rates for pass-through small businesses that were set to expire. (These are enterprises in which business revenue is taxed as the owner’s personal income.)
Beyond tax savings, which can be reinvested back into job creation and worker benefits, the law provides what Main Street needs most: certainty. With tax savings now locked in, entrepreneurs can plan for the years ahead — making long-term investments that will help to shape communities for decades to come.
But what truly sets this law apart is the restoration of full and immediate expensing for capital equipment. This provision is a game changer for my company.
We’re now moving forward with a $645,000 investment in new machining equipment that will allow us to take on more complex projects, many of which have recently been reshored from overseas. These new capabilities are about staying ahead of the curve in a fast-moving industry.
With these new machines comes new jobs. To support this expansion, we’re planning to hire five team members: three skilled machinists, a shipping specialist and a receiving specialist.
There are roughly 230,000 small and mid-sized manufacturing businesses like mine across the country. If even a fraction of them take similar steps in response to this law, the impact on American manufacturing, job creation and technological competitiveness could be enormous.
In fact, a similar provision in the 2017 law, which expired years ago, preceded the single largest monthly purchase of metalworking machinery since the 1990s.
By restoring immediate expensing and providing lasting tax relief for small businesses, the “One Big Beautiful Bill” lays a solid foundation for a true manufacturing resurgence.
Nicole Wolter is president and CEO of HM Manufacturing, a power transmission components provider in Wauconda. She is also a partner of the Job Creators Network Foundation.

Nicole Wolter, President and CEO of HM Manufacturing, is committed to ensuring that American manufacturing remains competitive and resilient. She was recently interviewed in Crain’s Chicago Business to discuss the potential impact of new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, a topic that affects manufacturers across Illinois and beyond. These policy changes present challenges, particularly in supply chain costs and pricing pressures, but they also reinforce the importance of adaptability, innovation, and strong industry partnerships.
Manufacturing is not just a local effort—it is a global industry built on collaboration and shared progress. Now more than ever, it is crucial that we work together, strengthening relationships with suppliers, customers, and industry leaders to navigate these evolving trade conditions. By fostering open communication, investing in new technologies, and supporting workforce development, we can continue to drive economic growth and ensure long-term success.
At HM Manufacturing, the focus remains on agility, problem-solving, and delivering high-quality products to customers worldwide. Challenges will come and go, but by uniting as an industry, we can build a stronger and more connected manufacturing future.
To read the full Crain’s Chicago article, click here: https://lnkd.in/gNtn5dwD

President and CEO Nicole Wolter recently shared her hopeful outlook for American manufacturing with The Wall Street Journal. Reflecting on recent challenges—from inflation and production shifts overseas to increased closures—Nicole believes the industry is on the cusp of a new era. With the potential for stronger support and a decrease in inflation, she sees an opportunity for U.S. manufacturing to thrive once again, bringing back business, creating jobs, and supporting local communities.
Nicole highlights the importance of skilled labor as the backbone of this industry and emphasizes the need to inspire young talent to join. By showcasing the opportunities within manufacturing, she aims to build a workforce ready to drive American industry forward.
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Read Nicole’s full insights in The Wall Street Journal here.

Stephanie Thomas of TopSpot interviews president and CEO, Nicole Wolter, in her article titled "Recruiting Women and the Next Generation of Manufacturing Through Networking". This article goes through Nicole's background and her opinion on the importance of recruiting women in the manufacturing industry.

To read the full article: ​https://www.topspot.com/blog/2023/05/recruiting-women-and-the-next-generation-of-manufacturing-through-networking/?_vsrefdom=linkedin.com&utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social%20media%20post&utm_content=2023%20trends%20part%202&utm_campaign=Blog%20Post%20Shares%20on%20Social%20Media

HM Manufacturing president and CEO, Nicole Wolter, elected as the first female manufacturing executive and first Latina chairman. 
To read the full article, click here:​https://www.dailyherald.com/business/20230309/tma-elects-female-manufacturing-executive-and-first-latina-chairman

HM Manufacturing president and CEO, Nicole Wolter, spoke with Paul Greaney on NTD News to discuss the future of the economy and the push towards automation within the manufacturing industry.

Nicole's segment starts at 8:45

To watch the segment, click here: https://www.ntd.com/ntd-business-full-broadcast-nov-15-2_881545.html​