WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Independent Women Features (IW Features), the grassroots storytelling and original journalism arm of Independent Women, released a documentary in its Earn More, Pay Less: How America Grew Under the Trump Tax Cuts series highlighting Idaho business owner, Lisa Buddecke.
The documentary details how Buddecke’s trendy food hall in Twin Falls, Idaho, became a local economic powerhouse thanks to the 2017 tax cuts that empowered entrepreneurs like Buddecke and her husband, Dave, to invest in, hire from, and revitalize their communities.
WATCH: How Tax Cuts Turned a Forgotten Building into a Beacon of Economic Opportunity
The idea to open a food hall in Twin Falls stemmed from a 2017 trip to Denver, Colorado, when Buddecke and her husband went to a food hall for something to eat. After spending hours there, Buddecke told IW Features they walked away thinking, “Wasn’t this a wonderful experience? And wouldn’t this be a great place to offer for Twin Falls?”
The Buddeckes were already entrepreneurs with decades of business experience, but launching Idaho’s very first food hall was more than just a business decision for them. The food hall, 2nd South Market, became a heartfelt community revitalization project, which only happened thanks to the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
“We’re a husband and wife team running a small business that revitalized a forgotten part of town,” Buddecke told IW Features. “We’re not Wall Street. We’re Main Street.”
Patrice Onwuka, director of the Center for Economic Opportunity at Independent Women, said: “The most powerful element of Ms. Lisa Buddecke’s story was how Opportunity Zones unlocked the American dream for Mr. Chan Chan. By incentivizing risk-taking, Opportunity Zones cleared a path to prosperity for a hardworking newcomer to our nation. Opportunity Zones were one of the many successful facets of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They moved capital off the sidelines and into neighborhoods that struggle to attract investment. The Big, Beautiful Bill breathes new life into this economic development program. By passing this historic legislation, Congress can bring into fruition the dreams of many other aspiring small business owners across America while revitalizing communities.”
Andrea Mew, managing editor of Independent Women Features and documentary producer, said: “This is what the American dream looks like: a husband and wife pouring everything into a derelict building and turning it into a launchpad for hardworking local chefs, cultural flavor, and job creation. Lisa Buddecke’s story proves that when smart tax cuts stick around, Americans not only build businesses, they breathe new life into their communities.”
The Earn More, Pay Less: How America Grew Under the Trump Tax Cuts series highlights the real-life impact of tax relief on middle-class families, small business owners, and job creators thanks to President Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). These lower tax burdens have fueled job growth, higher wages, and financial independence, especially for women in the workforce.
The Earn More, Pay Less series recently featured Lana Pol, a small business owner from Pella, Iowa, and Jolene Riessen, an Iowa corn farmer:
- Iowa Business Owner Sounds the Alarm on Expiring Tax Cuts
- Iowa Corn Farmer Warns of Widespread Economic Fallout if Trump’s Tax Relief Expires
Direct media inquiries and booking requests to [email protected].