Doug Sprankle: Small Business Owner Turned Grassroots Champion

On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed the Working Families Tax Cuts (WFTC) into law, securing a future where families will keep more of their paychecks and business owners have the freedom to invest in their communities. Few would guess that a grocery store owner from Saxonburg, Pa., would play such a pivotal role in the fight and even capture the attention of the president.

In 2020, grocer Doug Sprankle, who had always been a steward of the community, had seized the growth opportunities unlocked by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and was expanding his store, creating jobs, and reinvesting money back into Saxonburg businesses. Finally, after years of thin margins and personal sacrifice, TCJA gave business owners like Doug the reprieve and wiggle room they needed to survive and even thrive. But when he learned those very tax cuts were about to expire in 2025, Doug knew he had to act. 

When Doug partnered with Americans for Prosperity (AFP), he joined millions of activists nationwide fighting for their communities. His story is a shining example of what can happen when you see a problem in your community, take one small step to fix it, and in Doug’s case, help pass the One Beautiful Bill.

Doug’s Business Grows After Tax Relief 

As a second-generation grocer, Doug was determined to follow in the footsteps of his father, who opened Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market in 1998 with an investment of $1 down and $1,000 a week for 10 years. Two decades later, Doug carried on the family legacy when he was entrusted with opening the family’s third and largest store in Saxonburg, PA.  

From the start, Doug had a vision to create a community hub. He spent years building relationships with small businesses and connecting with customers so that the store could give back in meaningful ways: showcasing locally made products, organizing charity events, and donating to community causes. 

Like many small grocers, Doug knew that a 2% profit margin meant there was no financial cushion to fall back on. When earnings are slim, every penny counts, especially when each cent is poured back into the store’s employees and the community. 

The culmination of record-high inflation and years of a struggling economy had previously devastated Doug’s ability to run and grow his business. However, due to TCJA, Doug was now able to provide health insurance and other benefits to his employees, donate $100k into community causes annually, and expand his workforce to include aspiring restaurant owners so others could realize their American Dream. These milestones were a first in Sprankle history.  “Rising tides raise all ships here in Saxonburg”, emphasized Doug. 

Doug Joins Forces with Americans for Prosperity 

In 2022, AFP-PA Coalitions Director Mary Beth Cirucci connected with Doug while planning a grocery store giveaway to support families struggling with rising prices. The event was a turning point—Doug saw firsthand how, with AFP’s support, one voice could rally a community and drive change.

From then on, Doug leaned in. He hosted events, engaged his neighbors, and helped grow AFP’s grassroots presence in Saxonburg, amplifying the community work he’d already been committed to for years. His efforts quickly gained traction, even capturing the attention of then-candidate Donald Trump, who made a special campaign stop at Sprankle’s Neighborhood Market.

As Mary Beth reflects, “Doug has been to Harrisburg, he’s been to DC, he’s had the President of the United States in his store. One small step, and you have no idea where you’re gonna be.”

AFP’s Nationwide Campaign to Protect Taxpayers 

All the progress Doug had made for his business and his community was suddenly at risk when he learned the 2017 Tax Cuts were set to expire in 2025, threatening to wipe out the hard-earned savings that had allowed him to grow, hire, and reinvest in his team and community.

“If all of a sudden the tax cuts go away, I’m going to have to make some very scary decisions on equipment, on personnel, on how many hours we’re using, on benefits. It affects every aspect of our store”, Doug laments. 

Families and small business owners across the country shared the same fear that Washington would undo years of hard-won progress, but AFP was determined not to let that happen. With stories like Doug’s at the center, AFP launched a nationwide campaign—organizing more than 750 events and rallies across the country, collecting nearly one million voter contacts, and holding over 1,500 meetings with lawmakers and staff on Capitol Hill. The effort made one thing clear: America’s entrepreneurs, business owners, and working-class families would be the hardest hit if the tax cuts expired, and they wouldn’t go down without a fight. 

Doug was among millions of activists who took one small step and made a loud enough noise to pass the WFTC in July 2025, extending the 2017 tax cuts to secure more opportunities for families, enable small businesses to thrive, and help lend a hand to communities across America. 

Doug’s journey with AFP transformed him from a business owner into a force for change. His one small step helped fuel a monumental win—and showed what’s possible when everyday people rally around an issue to make their voices heard.