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Google eCity
Lexington is the winner of the first ever Google eCity Award for Kentucky, Mayor Jim Gray's office announced last week.
The Google eCity Award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state, what a release from Gray's office calls "the digital capitals of America."
“This award proves what we all feel — there's a whole lot of digital innovation going on here in Lexington,” Gray said.
Google partnered with independent research firm Ipsos to analyze the online strength of local small businesses in cities across the country. Scoring was based on company size, web and social media presence, and eCommerce capabilities.
“We’re proud to recognize the growing entrepreneurial spirit of businesses in communities such as Lexington — and the role that spirit plays in both creating jobs and sustaining local economies,” said Scott Levitan, Google’s director of small business engagement. “With 97 percent of Internet-users looking for products and services online, it’s clear that success is about being connected.”
According to Levitan, businesses that make use of the web are growing twice as fast and creating twice as many jobs. Google hopes that the 2013 eCity Award winners will become an inspiration to other communities across the nation.
For more information in the eCity initiative, visit www.google.com/ecities.