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Poll results

After six years in business, Worcester craft brewery Redemption Rock Brewing permanently closed its doors on Dec. 29. In the wake of its closure, CEO Dani Babineau said the City of Worcester could be doing more to support small businesses. Brian Treitman expressed a similar sentiment when he announced he would close his B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ in Worcester after the influx of chain restaurants in the region in part had forced him to close up shop. 


Local governments will often offer property tax breaks to businesses and new property developments in an effort to spur economic growth. Nearly all these tax breaks go to large corporations and companies with the connections and resources to advocate for a reduction in their taxes.

Should Central Massachusetts' local governments establish a program to provide property tax breaks to small locally-owned businesses or their landlords?
Yes, tax breaks would ease the burden for small businesses. (55%, 93 VOTES)
Yes, landlords would be incentivized to find small businesses to fill their spaces. (22%, 37 VOTES)
No, tax breaks should be reserved for large companies with significant economic impact. (5%, 9 VOTES)
No, governments shouldn't give tax breaks to any businesses. (18%, 31 VOTES)
Poll Description

After six years in business, Worcester craft brewery Redemption Rock Brewing permanently closed its doors on Dec. 29. In the wake of its closure, CEO Dani Babineau said the City of Worcester could be doing more to support small businesses. Brian Treitman expressed a similar sentiment when he announced he would close his B.T.’s Fried Chicken & BBQ in Worcester after the influx of chain restaurants in the region in part had forced him to close up shop. 


Local governments will often offer property tax breaks to businesses and new property developments in an effort to spur economic growth. Nearly all these tax breaks go to large corporations and companies with the connections and resources to advocate for a reduction in their taxes.

  • 170 Votes
  • 2 Comments
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2 Comments

  • Allen Falcon
    March 3, 2025

    The issue of tax breaks to keep smaller businesses would be less of an issue if Worcester reduced the residential to commercial shift by lowering the Residential Factor from the maximum to a less percentage. With the maximum Residential Factor in place, businesses are overtaxed and only larger businesses can afford to pursue TIFs and other incentives given they are often tied to employment growth. Businesses struggling to maintain and smaller businesses are left out of the process. Worcester could also be more aggressive in pursuing TIFs for nontaxed properties.

  • Inanna Arthen
    March 3, 2025

    Breaks for the small businesses directly, NOT to landlords. Too many "landlords" in central MA are huge out of state holding companies who screw their tenants, let their properties rot into the ground, and should be paying far more taxes, not getting any breaks. Small businesses need encouragement to buy their own buildings--they'll care about their communities. No breaks for out of state slumlords!