Sen. Sullivan is a strong supporter of Alaska’s small businesses
- Guest contributor
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
By Denny DeWitt
Alaska’s small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy. More than 99% of Alaska businesses are small businesses, employing over half of the state’s workforce. Small businesses are not just small “big businesses,” they are different creatures. Protecting and strengthening them should be a priority for any member of Congress, and Sen. Dan Sullivan has made it one of his. Our Sen. Sullivan did because he took the time to learn what small businesses are.
As someone who spent years representing Alaska’s small businesses as the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, I know firsthand how important federal policy decisions can be for the entrepreneurs who keep our communities running. I also know, firsthand, that Sen. Sullivan always has an open door to Alaska’s small business owners.
That’s why Sen. Sullivan’s work on tax policy deserves recognition. In 2017, Sen. Sullivan supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which created the 20% qualified business income deduction for many small businesses organized as partnerships, S corporations and sole proprietorships. For thousands of Alaska business owners, that deduction meant the ability to keep more of their earnings and reinvest in their operations, employees and communities.
More recently, Sen. Sullivan helped pass the 2025 tax package known as the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. That law made the 20% small business deduction permanent and preserved provisions allowing businesses to immediately deduct the cost of many capital investments, including equipment and machinery.
These policies matter in a state like Alaska, where operating costs are high, and capital investments are often significant. Making these tax provisions permanent gives small business owners the certainty they need to hire and grow.
Alaska’s entrepreneurs take risks every day to keep our economy moving. Sen. Sullivan’s support for policies that reduce tax and regulatory burdens and create stability for small businesses is good for all Alaskans.
• Denny DeWitt is a Juneau resident and owner of a government relations consulting firm.
