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May 24 2012

Landrieu Seeks Partnership with Google On “Get Your Business Online” Event for Lafayette, LA

Today, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La), Chair of the U.S. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, requested that Google Inc. bring their highly successful “Get Your Business Online” (GYBO) entrepreneur event to Lafayette, Louisiana. GYBO gives small businesses free online tools to create their own website and provides training about the process. In fact, Google has held GBYO events in 23 states across the country and aided over 200,000 job creators shape an online existence.

Senator Landrieu heralded Google’s previous partnerships on events around the state, citing, “The work Google has already done in Louisiana is laudable, partnering with the Idea Village during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and teaming up with the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council to increase the web presence of local businesses,” and went on to explain why Lafayette is, “an ideal location for Google to hold its next ‘Get Your Business Online’ workshop. Aside from its rich Cajun culture, food and entertainment, Lafayette is building a reputation as a technology hub because of its entrepreneurial spirit and high-speed internet connectivity. Lafayette Utilities System began constructing its broadband network for 120,000 residents several years ago. Now that the city is connected, the residents are ready to welcome Google’s assistance and training on how to create a website for their businesses.”

With small businesses being 99.7% of all employer firms and generating 65% of net new jobs within the past 17 years, it is clear that these nearly 28 million job creators are the backbone of America’s economy and will reinvigorate growth. However, a recent Kelsey Group study found that 97% of consumers use the internet to find services and goods in their hometowns, but 58% of small businesses do not have a working website. “Get Your Business Online” is a perfect fit for small business owners to learn critical tools for increasing their presence online which can lead to increased revenue and financial security for these job creators.

Text of the letter is below.

May 23, 2012

Mr. Eric Schmidt

Chairman

Google Inc.

1600 Amphitheatre Parkway

Mountain View, CA 94043

Dear Mr. Schmidt,

I write today to respectfully ask you to consider hosting one of Google’s highly successful “Get Your Business Online” events in Lafayette, Louisiana on August 24, 2012. The work Google has already done in Louisiana is laudable, partnering with the Idea Village during New Orleans Entrepreneur Week and teaming up with the Louisiana Minority Supplier Development Council to increase the web presence of local businesses. It is my understanding that the “Get Your Business Online” events that Google has hosted in other states have significantly increased business revenues. As Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I applaud Google’s efforts to assist small businesses in getting online as this is essential for entrepreneurs in the 21st century.

According to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Advocacy, small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms in the United States and have generated 65 percent of net new jobs over the past 17 years. Another study done by the Kelsey Group, found that 97 percent of consumers use the internet to research products or services in their local area, however, it is estimated that 58 percent of small businesses cannot be found online because they have no website. With your help, we can jumpstart the percentage of small businesses with an online presence and increase commerce.

The City of Lafayette is an ideal location for Google to hold its next “Get Your Business Online” workshop. Aside from its rich Cajun culture, food and entertainment, Lafayette is building a reputation as a technology hub because of its entrepreneurial spirit and high-speed internet connectivity. Lafayette Utilities System began constructing its broadband network for 120,000 residents several years ago. Now that the city is connected, the residents are ready to welcome Google’s assistance and training on how to create a website for their businesses.

Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to partnering with Google to develop another successful “Get Your Business Online” event for businesses in Lafayette and the surrounding areas.

With kindest regards, I am

Sincerely,

Mary L. Landrieu

United States Senator

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