PADUCAH, KY - The "Kentucky Get Your Business Online" program, sponsored by Google, is coming to Paducah next week. The program helps drive economic growth by giving area businesses free tools and resources to establish a website, find new customers, and grow their business.
 
This is the second event in Kentucky following the statewide launch of the program earlier this year and will take place from 9:30 am - noon on Wednesday, September 5th at the Julian Carroll Convention Center in Paducah. Increasing the number of small businesses online is one of the best ways to expand the local economy in Kentucky.
 
Joe DeMike, Head of Small Business Advocacy for Google will be joined by U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell at the event.

"Kentucky Get Your Business Online" is an easy and fast way for local businesses to get online. For the next year, participating area businesses can go to www.KentuckyGetOnline.com to get a free website as well as free tools, training and resources to help their business succeed online. Google is partnering with Intuit to provide its popularIntuit Websites offerings for free including an easy-to-build website, a customized domain name and web-hosting for one year.

Businesses simply limit their exposure to customers if they don’t have a website. Small businesses need to be online because that’s where their customers are. While 97% of internet users look online for local products and services, 71% of Kentucky small businesses do not have a website or online presence. In America today, no matter the size of the business, having a website is as vital as having a phone.

“The perception that getting online is complex, costly and time-consuming has prevented many Kentucky small businesses from taking the first step,” said Joe DeMike, Head of Small Business Advocacy at Google. “This program makes it fast, easy and free for businesses to get online."
 
Kentucky Get Your Business Online was made possible by Google in partnership with the following organizations: Intuit, SCORE, American Small Business Development Centers, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Small Business Development Centers.
 
For those small businesses owners that can attend in person, Google is hosting a half-day workshop in Paducah on Wednesday, September 5th. The free event will allow small business owners from across the region to build a free website, promote their business online and ask questions from Google experts.
 
To register and for more information visit: www.KentuckyGetOnline.com