Peter Steele: Celebrate Independence Day by taking the SBA Freedom 250 Small Business Pledge

As fireworks illuminated the skies across our six New England states this Independence Day, we did more than celebrate a historical date on a calendar. We honored a living legacy of self-reliance, grit and revolutionary thinking.

This year, as the United States enters its historic 250th anniversary milestone, Independence Day carries an even deeper meaning. It serves as a powerful reminder that our nation’s independence was not just won on the battlefield — it was forged on Main Street, built by independent makers, risk-takers and innovators.

The freedom, independence and liberty that all Americans enjoy — and too often take for granted — make our country unique in the history of the world. Those in many countries around the globe will never get the opportunity to start and grow their own business. So, this Independence Day, I am truly grateful to live in a nation where the entrepreneurial spirit is stronger than ever. I’m thankful that reaching the American Dream is still achievable by those who are willing to take the risk and who have the courage and the perseverance to make it happen.

Manufacturing and small-business commerce have been the backbone of New England’s economy since 1776, driving innovation from our historic textile mills to our modern, high-tech production floors. Our region is the literal birthplace of our nation’s pursuit of liberty, as well as the cradle of the American Industrial Revolution. The fierce independence that defined our founders’ lives on today in the sheer hustle of our modern entrepreneurs. When New Englanders set their minds to a problem — whether working out of a backyard workshop, spread across the top of a kitchen table or on a modern factory floor — they get things done.

I see this enduring American spirit in action every single week as I travel throughout the region. I saw it when I visited the SBA’s New Hampshire 2026 Small Business Person of the Year, Thomas Hartley, a Marine Corps veteran who founded Hartley Transportation in 1992. Starting as a one-man operation, Hartley’s firm now provides global logistics services, including truckload, rail, air and ocean freight. Hartley Transportation even arranged to haul retired space shuttles along the roads to their new homes.

Hartley has also established a significant niche in the North American coffee trade, managing transportation for major importers and roasters while developing the industry’s best practices for food safety and anti-theft initiatives.

Like many small business owners, Hartley is active in community service, volunteering as a local martial arts instructor and supporting veteran-focused charities.

Businesses like Hartley Transportation prove that the American dream is not a relic of the past; it is a thriving reality driving our modern economy forward. We are now witnessing a golden era of growth and strength for small enterprises. Thanks to a national focus on working family tax cuts, as well as deregulation and energy dominance, local economic momentum is surging. Over the last three months alone, new business formations have reached record highs across the country, and national jobs data have dramatically exceeded expectations with more than 560,000 jobs created.

To honor this momentum and celebrate our milestone anniversary, the U.S. Small Business Administration has launched the national SBA Freedom 250 Small Business Pledge. This nationwide initiative invites our local entrepreneurs to proudly stand behind the foundational values of free enterprise, hard work and the pursuit of the American dream. Participating businesses receive an official Freedom 250 certificate from the SBA, gain formal recognition as part of America's 250th anniversary celebration and join a growing network dedicated to sustained economic growth.

So, this Fourth of July, let’s celebrate the job creators who keep our local communities vibrant, secure and strong. I encourage every small-business owner across New England to visit our portal, take the pledge and allow us to formally recognize the vital work you do every day to carry our nation's legacy forward.

To join the national celebration and take the pledge, visit the official portal at sba.gov/freedom250.

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Peter A. Steele is the regional administrator in the New England 1 region for the U.S. Small Business Administration.