Brunswick, Georgia (July 16, 2020) — Today, on Thursday, July 16, 2020, Google co-hosted an online workshop with the Marshes of Glynn Libraries and the Connected Commerce Council for Georgia small businesses as part of the tech company’s ‘Grow with Google’ initiative. ‘Grow with Google’ aims to help create economic opportunity in communities across the United States by providing free training, tools, and expertise for people across their country to grow their skills, careers, and businesses.
U.S. Representative Buddy Carter joined the workshop to welcome participants and reinforce the importance of having digital skills in today’s workplace.
“Reaching customers online has always been important for Georgia businesses, but it’s more critical now than ever,” said U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter. “I’m grateful to Google and the Marshes of Glynn libraries for sharing these resources with small business owners in our state as they continue serving their customers and supporting our local economy.”
The virtual workshop, “Connect with Customers and Manage Your Business Remotely,” was led by Demming Bass, a Georgia-based Grow with Google Trainer and shared resources to help entrepreneurs manage their business during a crisis. Topics ranged from how to update critical business information online to best practices for virtual meetings and events.
In a recently conducted study by the Connected Commerce Council, a third of small business owners in the United States said that without digital tools they would have had to close all or part of their business due to COVID-19 and that they expect to continue relying on digital tools moving forward. Over 80% said they are interested in learning more about how digital tools can help their business in the future.
“More than 539,000 businesses used Google tools to connect with customers in the last year,” shared Lilyn Hester, Google’s Head of Southeast External Affairs and Government Relations. “‘The goal of these free ‘Grow with Google’ workshops is to provide more business owners across the state, especially in underserved communities, an opportunity to successfully harness the power of the internet for their success.”
It’s important that digital training continues beyond Grow with Google’s events. Starting today, libraries across Georgia will have access to funding through Libraries Lead with Digital Skills – an ongoing collaboration between Grow with Google, the American Library Association (ALA), and the Georgia Public Library Service.
“The Marshes of Glynn Libraries are excited to partner with Google to virtually bring “Grow With Google” to Brunswick, Georgia. Small business and the entrepreneurial spirit is on the rise in our community, and this workshop offered through Grow With Google will help nurture success in utilizing technology to grow businesses during this unprecedented time,” said Geri Lynn Mullis, Director of the Marshes of Glynn Libraries
In Google’s most recent Economic Impact Report, businesses in Georgia generated $8.68 billion in economic activity by using Google’s search and advertising tools. The full report details Google’s economic impact state-by-state, and features the stories of businesses fueling that growth, creating job opportunities, and transforming their communities. To learn more additional free trainings for small businesses, visit https://grow.google/events/
About ‘Grow with Google’
‘Grow with Google’ draws on Google’s 20-year history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow. Through this initiative, we aim to help everyone across America – those who make up the workforce of today and those who will drive the workforce of tomorrow – access the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses. For more information, please visit Google.com/grow.
