3/31/2014 - Town and Chamber Encourage Fairfield Businesses to Increase Their Online Presence
In partnership with Google and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce,
Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau today announced a yearlong
initiative to get Fairfield’s businesses online through Google’s Get
Your Business Online program.
Although 97% of Internet users are now looking online to find local
products and services, 58% of American businesses still do not have a
website. Through increased participation in the Get Your Business Online
program, the Town’s Department of Community and Economic Development
and the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce hope to close that gap.
Get Your Business Online provides small business owners with a custom
domain name, web hosting and access to educational resources -- all free
for one year. Since its debut in July 2011, the program has helped over
300,000 businesses successfully get online and start growing.
“Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy, and businesses
that are online grow faster and are twice as likely to create jobs,”
said Mark Barnhart, Director of Community and Economic Development.
“Their stories of success are our stories of success, and that is why
the Town is delighted to partner with Google and the Fairfield Chamber
of Commerce on this important new initiative.”
“The misconception that getting online is complex, costly and
time-consuming has prevented many 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.”
Today’s announcement adds Fairfield to a growing list of communities
planning to take advantage of Google’s Get Your Business Online program
this year. “Businesses have to be where their customers are,” Beverly
Balaz, Executive Director of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce said. “In
2014, that’s online.”