Websites now Free for Missouri Businesses

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Aug. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Google is announcing Missouri Get Your Business Online. Designed with prominent local and national partners to help drive economic growth, the program provides businesses in Missouri the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their businesses.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110830/CG60016LOGO)

Google is partnering with Intuit to provide its popular Intuit Websites offerings for free including an easy-to-build website, a customized domain name and web-hosting for one year. Participating businesses also receive a local business listing on Google Places and free tools, training and resources to succeed online.

Getting online represents an enormous economic opportunity for Missouri businesses. While 97% of Americans look online for local products and services, 63% of American small businesses do not have a website or online presence. That's a lot of small businesses that are virtually invisible to potential customers looking online. The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many small businesses from taking the first step.

"Small businesses in Missouri need to be online because that's where their customers are. Now they have a chance to easily and quickly create their own web presence and grow their businesses online," said Scott Levitan, Marketing Director for Google.

"As a leading provider of small business solutions, we have witnessed the growth small businesses have seen from getting online," said Ralph Matlack, Group Product Manager at Intuit. "We are excited to offer Intuit Websites for free to all the wonderful small businesses in Missouri and to help them create a customized presence that represents their unique brands."

"Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. By giving them the tools to get online we are opening doors to new customers and new markets, helping them grow and create jobs," said United States Senator Claire McCaskill.

"We are committed to making Kansas City the center of America's entrepreneurship. Our partnership with Google continues to put job creation first and foremost. Kansas City was recently cited as one of the nation's top seven places to launch a start-up, and this project to help small businesses get online strengthens that position," said Kansas City Mayor Sly James.

"Because more than 90 percent of our members are small businesses, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce understands the impact that small businesses have on the local economy, and we know that having a Web presence is becoming more and more important to the success of small businesses. Google's free resources to help get Missouri businesses online represent a significant opportunity for our region. We are thrilled to be partnering with Google on the initiative," said Jim Heeter, President and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.

"Small businesses today are truly operating in a global marketplace. A robust online presence is necessary for every small business to level the playing field and keep them competitive with the big companies with huge market share. The Small Business & Technology Development Centers are proud to partner with Google to help Missouri companies get their businesses online, making the ingenuity and creativity of Missouri's entrepreneurs available to the world, day or night, 365 days a year," said Chris Bouchard, Interim State Director for the Missouri Small Business &  Technology Development Centers.

About Missouri Get Your Business Online

Missouri Get Your Business Online is a joint initiative by Google, Intuit, Association of Small Business Development Centers, MeetUP, SCORE, The Kauffman Foundation, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Area Development Council, Kansas City Sourcelink, Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Jackson County County Executive, Mid-America Regional Council, KC Bizcare, Joplin Chamber of Commerce, Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce, Platte County Economic Development Council, MidAmerica Minority Business Development Council, Urban League of Greater Kansas City and other business organizations to provide complementary resources and tools to help small businesses create a website and help them understand the huge economic opportunities offered through the Internet.

The program has set a target of helping tens of thousands of Missouri businesses get online over the next 12 months. To learn more about Missouri Get Your Business Online, please visit www.MissouriGetOnline.com.

MEDIA NOTES:

• Kansas City events occur from 7:30AM to 6:30PM at the OfficePort in Kansas City on August 31st and September 1st. OfficePort is located at 208 W. 19th Street in Kansas City, Missouri.
• Senator Claire McCaskill, Mayor Sly James, Mayor Joe Reardon and Scott Levitan will make remarks at 11:15AM on Wednesday, August 31st at OfficePort.
• Scott Levitan from Google and Ralph Matlack, Group Product Manager at Intuit will be available for media interviews on site in Kansas City, or via telephone.

SOURCE Missouri Get Your Business Online with Google