Free Website Program Offered To Small Businesses In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As an online presence becomes more important for businesses in the digital age, the Alexandria Small Business Development is introducing a program to help small businesses without a website.

The program will provide a free basic WordPress website to eligible City of Alexandria small businesses with a focus on disadvantaged and minority-owned small businesses. According to the Small Business Development Center, an online presence can help small businesses better connect with new and existing customers as well as improve exposure and legitimacy.

Eligible businesses are small, for profit businesses with up to 100 employees in the City of Alexandria. Businesses must also not have a website, are registered to do business in Virginia, have an Alexandria business license, are in good standing with the city and are not involved in bankruptcy proceedings. Corporate-owned locations, branches, subsidiaries and franchise businesses are not eligible unless they are locally owned and operated.

The free website will be hosted by W3 Consulting for one year. After one year, the business will be responsible for a website cost of about $300 per year.

Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Aug. 12. Overviews are available in English, Spanish, Amharic and Arabic. More information is available from the Alexandria Small Business Development Center.