Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Free Workshop in Cleveland: How to Start a Web site for Small Businesses


CLEVELAND, OH – On Monday, May 6, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) will team up with web giant Google as the company holds a small business workshop in Cleveland focused on ensuring that Ohio’s businesses are maximizing their online opportunities. At the Ohio Get Your Business Online event, Google experts will help small business owners create their own websites courtesy of Intuit and will train the business owners on how to reach more customers online.

“I’ve partnered with Google to host this workshop because small businesses are the lifeblood of our state’s economy and should be given every resource to increase their connection with consumers,” Brown said. “Having a website and online presence is a plus for almost every small business. Today’s event will help Ohio small businesses strengthen our economy by giving them the tools to expand their business and create more jobs.”  

Ohio Get Your Business Online is an easy and fast way for Ohio businesses to launch a website and become more visible online, where the majority of people are now going to find goods and services. At the event, businesses will also receive a customized domain name, free web hosting for one year, a local business listing on Google Maps, free tools, training, and resources. While 97 percent of internet users look online for local products and services, 54 percent of Ohio small businesses do not have a website or online presence.

“The perception that getting online is complex, costly, and time-consuming has prevented many Ohio 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.”

To register for the event, visit http://www.gybo.com/ohio/events or call 1-800-986-6852. Businesses unable to attend can still secure a free website and resources by going to www.OhioGetOnline.com. More information about the program and the Cleveland event is also available on the website.
Brown is working to provide small businesses with greater opportunities to grow and expand. He has held dozens of Small Business Administration (SBA) seminars around Ohio and was instrumental in passing the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act, which created the Small Business Lending Fund (SBLF.) The SBLF enables community banks to make loans to small businesses seeking to expand operations or hire new workers. The SBLF helps small businesses gain access to capital by providing resources to community banks that hold less than $10 billion in assets. The dividend rate a community bank pays on SBLF funding is reduced as that bank increases its lending to small businesses—providing a strong incentive for new small business lending so they can expand and create jobs. Brown also fought for a provision in the Small Business Jobs Act that raises SBA loan limits and eliminates certain fees, which is based in part on his Small Business Emergency Loan Relief Act.

                        WHO
:               U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
                                                 Google Spokesman and Web Experts
                                                 Ohio Small Businesses
                                               
                        WHAT:             Google Small Business Workshop

                        WHEN:             Monday, May 6, 2013
                                                  8:30 a.m. Registration and Check-in
                                                  11:00 a.m. Senator Brown Arrives

                        LOCATION:     Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Cleveland
                                                  11400 Euclid Avenue
                                                  Cleveland, Ohio 44106

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