May 31, 2012

Mayor Emanuel Visits Google's Get Illinois Businesses Online Event

Event Offers Business Training, Free Websites for Small Businesses

Mayor's Press Office    312.744.3334

CHICAGO - This morning, Mayor Emanuel visited Illinois Get Your Business Online, a Google-led program that is aimed to equip Illinois businesses with the tools they need to grow.

"I am pleased that Google is helping small business owners, who are the backbone of our economy, have access to the resources they need to grow,” said Mayor Emanuel. “And I am especially pleased that this event is helping businesses out in our neighborhoods, where jobs are being created for Chicagoans.”

One of the tools provided by Google is a free website and customized domain name, and web hosting for one year. Google reports that more than half of all Illinois small businesses have no website, even though 97 percent of the population uses the Internet to search for local products. The goal of the program is to demonstrate that building a website is easy, affordable, and a good business decision.

The Mayor toured the event, spoke with business owners, stopped in on classes, and learned about the resources being made available. Google is hosting the two-day event at the Chicago Illuminating Company, 19 E. 21st Street, on Thursday and Friday.

Google event

Mayor Emanuel speaks to small business owners at the Google-led “Illinois Get Your Business Online” program.

Google Event 2

Mayor Emanuel talks with a small-business owner at the Google-led “Illinois Get Your Business Online” program.

Photos Courtesy of: Google

 

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