U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich presents the Google 2014 eCity for New Mexico award to Los Alamos Commerce and Development Chair Bill Wadt on behalf of the community during a special event this morning at the Los Alamos Co+Op Market. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
LACDC Chair Bill Wadt. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Co+Op General Manager Steve Watts. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
BUSINESS News:
The Los Alamos Co+op Market hosted an awards ceremony this morning for Google, which has named Los Alamos the 2014 Google eCity for New Mexico.
The eCity Awards recognize the strongest online business community in each state – the digital capitals of America. These cities’ businesses are embracing the web to find new customers, connect with existing clients and fuel their local economies. Los Alamos joins the ranks of America’s leading cities in the digital economy.”
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich presented the 2014 Google eCity award to Los Alamos Commerce and Development Chair Bill Wadt, who accepted on behalf of the community.
Heinrich join U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan, Co+Op General Manager Steve Watts, business leaders and LANL representatives and members of the community in recognizing Los Alamos’ innovative businesses at the event held on the lawn of the Los Alamos Co+Op Market.
“The Los Alamos business community has proven that its reach extends well beyond the store front,” Heinrich said. “By utilizing the power of the Internet, small businesses in Los Alamos are reaching more customers, creating jobs and growing the local economy. This award recognizes the entrepreneurial spirit New Mexico is known for and encourages business communities across our state to increase their online presence. I congratulate Los Alamos on this tremendous achievement.”
“Los Alamos is a community that loves technology,” Wadt said. “People in Los Alamos – whether our visitors or our residents – expect fast, efficient and friendly online experiences. Given the critical role that technology plays in driving growth and creating jobs, we want to make sure that every business in Los Alamos is embracing the Web.”
The eCity Award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state whose businesses embrace the web to find new customers, connect with existing clients, and fuel their local economies. One city is chosen in each of the 50 states.
Google worked with the independent research firm IPSOS to analyze the online strength of local small businesses in cities in all 50 states.
The Google 2014eCity event was held at the Los Alamos Co+op Market, managed by Steve Watts who spoke at the event about how the internet has helped his business thrive.
“Since opening in 2011, the Los Alamos Co+op Market has used the Web to grow our business while we offer great products and fresh, wholesome foods, most grown within a 300-mile radius of Los Alamos,” Watts said. “Our customers may enjoy squeezing and tasting our produce, but they also go online to learn more about us and our growers from our website.”
Over the next three years, businesses that make use of the web are expected to grow 40 percent faster and are twice as likely to create jobs. With small businesses creating two-thirds of all new jobs, the potential impact of getting these businesses online is enormous. Google hopes that these “digital capitals” will become an inspiration to other areas — throughout the nation — of what can be accomplished by spearheading business development on the Web.
To view a list of 2014 Google eCity digital capitals across the U.S., click here.
The crowd gathered on the lawn at the Los Alamos Co+Op Market for today’s event. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Los Alamos County Council Chair Geoff Rodgers, LACDC Chair Bill Wadt, Los Alamos National Bank CEO John Gulas and U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
From left, Los Alamos Visitor Centers Manager Melanie Pena, Chamber’s Ryn Hermann, MainStreet’s Suzette Fox, LACDC Chair Bill Wadt and the Chamber’s Blake Jackson and Nancy Partridge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
