The City of Flowood has been chosen by Google as the strongest online business community in Mississippi for 2015.  The eCity Awards recognize one community per state as a digital capital, and other eCity winners include Boston, Denver, Atlanta, and Austin.

In determining which Mississippi community would receive the award, Google noted that Flowood’s municipal website (www.cityofflowood.com) lets citizens pay their water bill, pay court fees and reserve facilities online. The site was designed and programmed by U.S.NEXT.

?We are delighted that Flowood?s new website has helped them be selected by Google as Mississippi?s eCity,? stated David Crawford, CEO of U.S.NEXT.  ?We enjoyed working with the City?s staff and elected officials, and are pleased to see their strong efforts recognized on a national level.? 

Google also noted that Flowood has the nation’s first indoor radio-controlled car park (the only one in the nation that’s city-owned).  By generating a strong online presence, the City of Flowood has helped to create a strong digital platform for the business community.

?With 97 percent of Internet users looking for products and services online, it?s clear that success is about being connected,? said Emily Harris, Marketing Manager for Google?s Let?s Put Our Cities on the Map Program.  Google reports that 4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find information about local businesses.