Cedar Falls Named the 2014 "Digital Capital" of Iowa

Senator Grassley today applauded Cedar Falls for being named the 2014 Iowa "eCity" in recognition of the strength of the Cedar Falls online business community.

The award was presented by Google today at Scratch Cupcakery, a small business in Cedar Falls. The award was determined by a review of local small businesses in cities in all 50 states by Google and the independent research firm Ipsos MORI. A variety of factors were analyzed including the likelihood of small businesses in each city to have a website, sell goods directly from their website, promote their business on a social network, use a blog, and whether they have a mobile-friendly site. The top scoring city in each state was designated as a Google eCity.

"I always take great pride in visiting small businesses throughout Iowa, which serve as an engine of economic prosperity. Small businesses create jobs, boost local economies, and provide a route for entrepreneurs to turn dreams into reality. Iowa is clearly embracing technology and the power of the Internet to grow its business community, and I congratulate Cedar Falls on helping to lead the charge," said Grassley.

Grassley is an advocate for small businesses and has worked to advance federal policies that encourage growth and innovation in this important sector, including increasing the accessibility of a research and development tax credit for small business owners. He supports pro-growth tax reform such as simplifying and reducing tax rates for individuals and small businesses. Grassley has also been named a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Business. Two out of every three new jobs in America are created by small businesses. According to the Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, small businesses make up 99.7 percent of all U.S. employer firms, and over half of the American workforce either owns or works for a small business.

More information about the Google eCity Awards can be found here.

Grassley's remarks today in Cedar Falls are below.

Prepared Remarks of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Cedar Falls eCity Award Ceremony
Scratch Cupcakery
Wednesday, October 15, 2014

It's a pleasure to be with you all here at Scratch Cupcakery.

I always take great pride in visiting small businesses throughout Iowa, which without a doubt serve as an engine of economic prosperity here in the Hawkeye State.

But I'm especially honored to be here today as Google presents the 2014 e-City Award, recognizing Cedar Falls as the 2014 "digital capital" of Iowa.

We're here to celebrate innovation… entrepreneurship… job creation… and economic vitality. These things, unfortunately, aren't always encouraged by folks back in our Nation's capital, but are clearly the focus here in Iowa's digital capital.
As we all know, the Internet has changed -- and will continue to change -- the way business is done. And not just for big business. The diversity of online applications and tools that have become available to businesses of all sizes allow entrepreneurs to reach far beyond Main Street and into the homes of customers from coast to coast and all over the world.

But companies must make the decision to go beyond the brick-and-mortar to tap into the vibrant, competitive Internet marketplace in order to expand their business. Today's presentation of Google's e-City Award is a clear testament to how successful the business community in Cedar Falls has been in doing just that.

It should come as no surprise that small businesses -- like Scratch Cupcakery -- are powerful and dynamic players in our Nation's economy. They create jobs, boost local economies, and provide a route for entrepreneurs to turn dreams into reality.

Over half of the American workforce, in fact, either owns or works for a small business. Two out of every three new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And small businesses make up an incredible 99.7 % of all U.S. employer firms.

The Internet, however, has truly unleashed the power and potential of small business. Last year, web-savvy small businesses created twice as many jobs as their offline competitors. And these businesses are truly bringing the storefront to the customer -- wherever that customer might be -- as 97% of all consumers are now shopping online to find local goods and services.

Indeed, businesses are doing incredible things with technology here in Cedar Falls. But this should also come as no surprise. Iowans have embraced the digital frontier from the outset, and leading tech companies have responded by embracing -- and investing in -- what Iowa has to offer.

Since 2007, Google has created jobs and invested over $1.5 billion in Iowa through the construction and continuing operation of its Council Bluffs data center. And in 2012, Google announced plans for the construction of a second data center in Iowa. Across the state, Internet startups to large tech firms are contributing nearly $11 billion to Iowa's GDP.

Iowa is clearly embracing technology and the power of the Internet to grow its business community, and I'm proud to say that Cedar Falls is helping lead the charge.

I'm thrilled to be here today as we recognize these accomplishments in the great state of Iowa.

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