CA Small Businesses Generate $67B: Google Economic Impact Report

SILICON VALLEY, CA — Mountain View-based Google announced Thursday that in one year's time, $67.4 billion in economic activity was generated by 268,000 California businesses, publishers and nonprofits using Google search and advertising tools to connect with the people and communities they serve. By increasing their online presence, the businesses grew and brought more money and jobs into the local economy, the company stated in a news release accompanying its ninth annual California Economic Impact Report.

“People turn to the web to learn, discover, find and buy things. Being online can have a big impact; it’s where businesses can connect with their customers,” said Mary Ellen Coe, president of Google Marketing Solutions. “At Google, we see the power of the web working for American businesses and we believe that with hard work and the help of technology, every business in California can grow.”

The report highlights Zume Pizza in Mountain View as an example of how a business can use Google's tools to their advantage.

"In just two years, the pizza enterprise hired over 150 people to keep up with their growing operation, offering free health insurance for all employees and their families and an average pay rate for hourly workers about 40 percent higher than the traditional entry-level wage," the company stated.

To help more Americans with their small businesses, Google says it launched its Grow with Google initiative through which Google training and other tools to grow their skills, careers and businesses can be accessed.

View Google's full California Economic Impact Report here.

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