PHOTO: Heinrich, Luján Present Google eCity Award to Los Alamos

PHOTO: (from left) Los Alamos Commerce & Development Chairman Bill Wadt, Sen. Heinrich, Los Alamos Cooperative Market General Manager Steve Watts, and U.S. Represenatative Ben Ray Luján at 2014 Google eCity Award event in Los Alamos.

LOS ALAMOS, N.M. -- Today, at a public event at the Los Alamos Co+op Market, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich and U.S. Representative Ben Ray Luján presented the Los Alamos business community with the 2014 Google eCity Award. They were joined by representatives from Google, as well as members of the Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce, and local officials.

"The Los Alamos business community has proven that its reach extends well beyond the store front. By utilizing the power of the Internet, small businesses in Los Alamos are reaching more customers, creating jobs, and growing the local economy," Heinrich said. "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."

"Congratulations to the Los Alamos business community for winning Google's eCity award. This recognition is a testament to the business savvy and entrepreneurial spirit of the hard-working small businessmen and women in Los Alamos, as well as the local organizations that provide support and guidance for the business community," Luján said. "I commend Los Alamos businesses for their efforts to harness the power of the Internet - from social media to websites, blogs, and more - and using its potential to build stronger businesses, a stronger economy, and a stronger community. This award also serves as a reminder of the importance that the Internet plays in our economy and the need to promote broadband expansion in communities around New Mexico." 

Google and Ipsos, an independent research firm, analyzed a variety of factors to determine which cities would receive a Google eCity Award. Winning cities had businesses that exhibited a strong online presence in multiple areas including social media, website, blogs, and mobile accessibility.