Mountain View, CA -- Google has named Hockessin as the 2014 eCity for the State of Delaware.
The eCity Awards recognize the strongest online business communities in all fifty states. The
businesses in these communities are embracing the web to find new customers, connect with
existing clients and fuel their local economies. Hockessin joins the ranks of America’s leading
cities in the digital economy.
Small businesses across the city have leveraged the Internet to grow and reach new customers.
For example, Woodside Farm Creamery, which began serving Hockessin in 1998, utilizes the
web to reach potential customers from outside the Hockessin area and highlight the farm’s
growth, as it has operated as a family farm in 1796.
“Hockessin serves as a prime example of how innovation and growth in e-commerce can
successfully contribute to bolstering economic progress and competitiveness,” said Emma
Ogiemwanye, a representative from Google. “Google is proud to recognize Hockessin’s
accomplishment, and the role it plays in creating Delaware jobs.”
County Executive Tom Gordon said the recognition Hockessin received from Google was a good example for the rest of the County’s business and commerce to follow.
“When Google recognizes you as the eCity of Delaware, you’re doing something right,” County Executive Gordon said. “Only those who keep up with the latest technology and trends will survive well into the future. I congratulate Hockessin, and I hope other areas of New Castle County replicate its effort.”
BACKGROUND:
Ninety-seven percent of Internet users look online for local products and services. Businesses
need to be where their customers are and in 2014, that is online. The impact of being online is
significant–businesses that are online grow twice as fast and are twice as likely to create jobs as
their offline counterparts.
Google and independent research firm, Ipsos, analyzed the online strength of local small
businesses across all fifty states. They weighed a variety of factors to determine the leading cities and towns across the US, including the likelihood of small businesses to have a website, use a blog, promote themselves on a social network, sell goods directly from their webpages and whether they had a mobile-friendly website. The winning cities exhibited strong engagement and potential for growth within the digital economy. This is the second year Google has announced a list of eCities for the United States. For more information visit ww.google.com/ecities.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Emma Ogiemwanye
press@google.com
Chris Maloney
cmaloney@blackrockgrp.com
###