Internet giant Google is reaching out to help small businesses do business online.

Google on Friday is kicking off its statewide program “North Carolina Get your Business Online.” The event will be held at Royal Banquet Center at 3801 Hillsborough St., Raleigh.

Google says that 97 percent of Internet users look for local goods and services online yet 69 percent of North Carolina businesses do not have a website. The Internet search company adds that one in five searches is local, meaning consumers are searching for goods and services nearby.

Google is partnering with Homestead Inc to provide its Homestead Websites offerings to small businesses for free, including an easy-to-build website, a customized domain name and web-hosting for one year. Businesses participating in the program can also get free tools, training and resources. 

The Friday event will have two sessions: the first from 9 a.m. to noon and the second from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Google representatives will be on hand at the event to counsel businesses one on one.

U.S. Rep. George Holding, a Republican from Raleigh, is scheduled to participate in kickoff event between 9:45 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.