Facebook hand-picks Greenville 💁

WYFF // Read more here.

Greenville made another list, y’all. Instead of recognition for great food or beautiful scenery, our city was chosen by Facebook as one of five cities to test its new Community Boost Program. The goal of Community Boost: encourage small business growth + help people learn the digital skills they need in today’s economy.

80% of small businesses say that using Facebook helps them with local outreach + 46% of small businesses in our state say Facebook is an essential part of their business. Mark Zuckerberg has invested over $1 billion since 2011 to help give smaller local businesses + nonprofits “access to the same tools the big guys have.”

Mayor Knox White said he looks forward to small businesses + nonprofits increasing their digital presence and skills – hopefully, that will translate into new job opportunities nationwide. The program launches in 2018 + will eventually reach 30 cities.

This comes as Facebook also announces a hyper-local app, called Facebook Local, which is “essentially a way to find out what’s happening soon and nearby.” Learn more here + download here.