07.27.12

Hoeven, Berg Partner with Google to Help ND Small Businesses Create Websites, Grow Online Presence

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven and Congressman Rick Berg today joined representatives from Google in hosting a seminar to assist the state’s small businesses in building websites or expanding their online presence. Hoeven invited Google to North Dakota to host the event, “North Dakota Get Your Business Online,” which offers free services, tools and training to the state’s businesses. More than 60 North Dakota small businesses registered to attend.

“Our state’s small businesses drive our economy and create good jobs for North Dakotans,” said Hoeven. “Today’s Google event provides our state’s job creators with the opportunity to grow and expand online and will help them to continue building strong businesses. We’re working to do all we can to help our state’s almost 62,000 small businesses succeed.”

“The entrepreneurs and innovators gathered today represent our state’s entrepreneurial spirit and embody the American Dream,” Berg stated. “Our small businessmen and women – not Washington – are our nation’s job creators, and today’s Google event offers them more opportunities to grow and expand their enterprises. With dedication and a lot of hard work, these men and women built their business, and it is their continued efforts and resolve that will get our country back on the path to growth and prosperity.”

According to Google, 97% of consumers report going online to look for a business, and in North Dakota, 58% of small businesses don’t have a web presence. Today’s event provides the state’s small businesses with free tools to help improve their web presence, including an Intuit website, customized domain name, web hosting for one year and online training. Local partners for the event include the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce, the North Dakota Small Business Development Center, the nonprofit association SCORE and Intuit.

“The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many North Dakota small businesses from taking the first step,” said Scott Levitan, Director of Small Business Engagement at Google. “This program makes it fast, easy and free for businesses to get online.”