Event Would Connect SWPA Small Businesses with New Customers Through Online Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today urged Google CEO Eric Schmidt to bring one of the company’s ‘Get Your Business Online’ events to southwestern Pennsylvania. Across the country, Google has hosted ‘Get Your Business Online’ events with local small businesses. The events help businesses attract new customers through online advertisements, website creation and a host of other online initiatives.
“Southwestern Pennsylvania’s small businesses are some of the best and most promising in the country, and helping them gain a competitive edge by getting online will mean more customers, more economic activity and more job creation for our region,” Senator Casey said. “Getting Google together with our small businesses will be an economic game changer for our region. It could open up whole new markets and give our state’s businesses the edge they need to compete in a global economy.”
At each ‘Get Your Business Online’ event, Google experts help small businesses create websites, advertise online and use other online resources to attract more customers. For example, the ‘Texas Get Your Business Online’ program offers local small businesses a free professional website with a unique domain name that is hosted for one year without cost. Additionally, Google’s technology team helps these businesses place online advertisements on Google Places and other internet sites that can drive up business.
In his letter, Senator Casey asked Google to bring this unique partnership to southwestern Pennsylvania where this technology could help many thriving small businesses take their operations to the next level.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter to Google CEO Eric Schmidt is below:
Dear Mr. Schmidt:
I write to respectfully request that Google host a “Get Your Business Online” event in the southwest region of Pennsylvania. In today’s challenging economic environment Pennsylvania’s small businesses owners need every possible tool to sustain and grow their businesses.
I understand that Google has hosted these events in cities across the country and has generously offered hundreds of small businesses free assistance in website design, webhosting services, and customized domain names. This event would provide tools to small businesses that will allow them to reach out to more customers, grow revenue and potentially hire additional employees. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy and I am committed to providing resources that will help them grow and prosper.
I stand ready to assist Google in hosting an event in southwest Pennsylvania. Thank you for your continued efforts in assisting our nation’s small businesses.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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