KNOXVILLE - According to Google, 16,000 Tennessee businesses, publishers and nonprofits used Google search and advertising tools to connect with the people and communities they serve. As a result, $2,630,000,000 in economic activity was generated. By using Google products, businesses increased their online presence and were able to grow. This brought more money and jobs into the local economy. This is the tenth year Google has released its Economic Impact Report.

A recent national study by Deloitte found that over 80% of small businesses surveyed are not fully using online digital tools. The same report determined the following:

• Digital small businesses are nearly three times as likely to have created new jobs in the last year.
• Digital small businesses are seeing four times higher revenue growth
• Digital small businesses are almost three times as likely to reach more customers via increased calls, leads and sales inquiries
• Digital small businesses are three times as likely to have exported a product or service

“For small businesses across the U.S., the web is the most powerful tool to attract new customers and retain existing ones,” said Mary Ellen Coe, President of Google Customer Solutions. “Last year, our search and advertising tools helped generate billions of dollars in economic activity for millions of businesses - helping to create a lasting impact on local communities. And we look forward to working with Tennessee businesses, nonprofits and publishers to help their businesses grow.”

Google’s Tennessee Economic Impact Report detailed how MedHaul in Memphis used digital tools to increase their online presence and reach customers. Growing up with a grandmother who had Type 2 diabetes, Erica Plybeah knew firsthand the challenges of transporting people to medical appointments. Inspired by her family's experience, Erica founded MedHaul, a platform that connects hospitals and patients with medical transportation providers. Erica was recently selected for Google for Startups Immersion, a mentorship program designed to support black startup founders. Today, MedHaul runs Google Ads campaigns to reach people searching for transportation solutions and uses G Suite tools to collaborate efficiently. Erica remains committed to providing all communities with access to reliable medical transportation.

To support more small businesses, Google launched its Grow with Google initiative to help create economic opportunity for Americans. Drawing on Google’s history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow, the initiative aims to give Americans access to the best of Google’s training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses. More about these resources are at grow.google.

Last August, Grow with Google came to Tennessee to hold in person workshops trainings in local libraries. To support their local organizations’ efforts to teach digital skills, the initiative created the Grow with Google Partner Program to empower nonprofits, libraries, government agencies, educational institutions and other organizations with a range of digital skills resources. Organizations apply to the program and once accepted can use it as a hub for training content, tools and promotional materials. Partners can leverage customized toolkits for getting started, hosting trainings, and sharing Grow with Google programs and resources with their community.