Websites Now Free for Virginia Businesses

MANASSAS, Va., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Google is announcing Virginia Get Your Business Online.  Google worked with local partners to design the program, which will help drive economic growth by giving Virginia businesses the tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their business.

Virginia Get Your Business Online is an easy and fast way for Virginia businesses to get a website. 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 Virginia businesses also receive a local business listing on Google Places and free tools, training and resources to succeed online.

Small businesses need to be online because that's where their customers are. While 97% of Americans look online for local products and services, 44% of Virginia small businesses do not have a website or online presence. The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many small businesses from taking the first step.

"Small businesses are missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new customers in Virginia and beyond," said Scott Levitan, Marketing Director for Google.  "Virginia Get Your Business Online will help make it fast, easy and free for Virginia businesses to get online."

“Small businesses drive our economy and their success is crucial to ensuring the sustained and robust recovery our nation needs,” said Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell. “This initiative will provide many small businesses in the Commonwealth with the opportunity to grow their sales, expand their operations and, most importantly, use that growth to employ more of our citizens,” Governor McDonnell continued. “I look forward to joining with Google to help kick-off their "Virginia Get Your Business Online" partnership with small businesses in the Commonwealth to help increase their visibility online and make them more competitive and successful in the years ahead.”

"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 Virginia and to help them create a customized presence that represents their unique brands."

"Every day we see more and more people realize that meeting face-to-face to collaborate is by far the best way to get things done," said Mary Telesco, VP of Meetup. "There are thousands of Small Business Meetup members helping each other succeed every day by connecting with one another, in-person.  That is exactly why we are thrilled to partner with Google on this initiative -- small business owners getting online together is better than going at it alone!"

"An effective online presence is necessary for small businesses to thrive in the digital age. It not only helps business reach new customers but continue to reach out to existing ones," said Jody Keenan, State Director of the Virginia Small Business Development Centers.  "The Virginia Small Business Development Centers Network is excited to be partnering with Google to help Virginia companies both get online and strengthen their online presence."

Businesses can either get online through www.Virginiagetonline.com, or in person through a series of Google-hosted events throughout the state.  

The first of several events for small businesses will be held on Tuesday, September 20, in Manassas at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. The second set of events will be held on Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 in Richmond at Richmond Centerstage.  Businesses across Virginia who cannot attend the events can visit www.Virginiagetonline.com to quickly and easily get online today.  The program will be available online for a year.

Virginia Get Your Business Online is made possible by Google in partnership with Intuit, Meetup, American Small Business Development Centers, SCORE, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Retail Merchants Association, Virginia Small Business Development Centers, the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce, the Northern Virginia Technology Council, the Retail Merchants Association, the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Associated General Contractors of Virginia, the Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, TeqCorner, RichTech, the Center for Innovative Technology, the REALTOR Association of Prince William, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce, the Hanover Association of Businesses and Chamber of Commerce, and the Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Event Details:
Virginia Get Your Business Online
Tuesday, September 20
Hylton Performing Arts Center
10960 George Mason Circle
Manassas, VA 20110

Virginia Get Your Business Online
Friday and Saturday, September 23 and 24
Richmond Centerstage
600 East Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23219-1891

MEDIA NOTES:
Scott Levitan from Google and Governor Bob McDonnell will be giving remarks at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, September 20th at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Scott, Governor McDonnell and Ralph Matlack from Intuit will be available for media interviews at that time.

Scott Levitan from Google will be giving remarks at 10:30 AM on Friday, September 23rd at Richmond Centerstage.

SOURCE Google