Health care costs too high for the family biz

Soaring health care costs are crippling family-owned businesses in Connecticut, according to a survey by the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the University of Connecticut. The two organizations, which have partnered to help family-run stores through business planning to operation, surveyed area businesses and found that 82 percent cited the high cost of health care benefits as the most critical issue they face. Seventy-five percent of respondents considered the high cost of doing business in the state a high hurdle as well. Respondents suggested that lawmakers reduce the cost of doing business in the state and offer tax credits for family business owners.