Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

Monday 13 noveMber 2017 BUSINESS
A24

Zuckerberg nears end of U.S. tour, wants to boost small biz

By BARBARA ORTUTAY Zuckerberg said. “But be-
AP Technology Writer cause we are kicking off
NEW YORK (AP) — What’s this whole program that I
Mark Zuckerberg’s biggest think is going to be critical
takeaway as he wraps up to the whole mission focus-
a year of travel to dozens of ing on building community,
U.S. states? The importance I thought it was an impor-
of local communities. tant thing to do.”
“Most of the discussion we Facebook wouldn’t say
have nationally is about how many of its own em-
what the government ployees will be participat-
should do, or to some de- ing in the Community Boost
gree what families should program, which will “visit”
do,” the Facebook CEO 30 U.S. cities next year and
said in an interview. “Peo- offer people free training
ple don’t spend that much on a range of digital skills.
time talking about commu- Those will include cod-
nity, and I think probably ing, building websites and
that’s the most important — naturally — using Face-
part of people’s support book for their business.
structure.” The company has
To this end, Zuckerberg is launched a smaller ver-
announcing a program to sion of the program in De-
boost small businesses and troit, where it is paying to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg takes a selfie with a group of entrepreneurs and innovators
bolster individual technical train 3,000 people in digital after taking part in a roundtable discussion at Cortex Innovation Community technology hub,
skills both on and off Face- skills through a local group Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017, in St. Louis.
book. The move shows how called Grand Circus. Associated Press
intertwined Facebook has Zuckerberg said he thinks along with executives from book a force for good in Thursday to announce the
become not just in our so- these are some “specific Google and Twitter on Rus- the world. program, which will also
cial lives, but in entrepre- things” Facebook can do sia’s use of online services The 33-year-old CEO has touch down in Houston,
neurs’ economic survival to help boost the economy to meddle with the 2016 spent the past year visiting Greenville, South Carolina
and growth. and small businesses, “both U.S. elections. Between that states he hadn’t been to yet and other cities. While the
Facebook says more than because it’s going to be and concerns that Face- to learn more from regular tour has sometimes borne a
70 million small businesses good for our products and book has encouraged po- people and local commu- resemblance to a political
use its service. Only 6 million business and because it’s litical polarization and the nities — stopping by an opi- campaign — Zuckerberg
of them advertise. going to be good for this spread of fake news, it’s oid treatment center, an oil has made a point of meet-
“If this were purely about mission of building a com- been a tough year for the rig and a seafood process- ing with a cross-section of
our ad business or some- munity even beyond our company. ing plant along the way. Americans and listening to
thing like that, I probably own interests.” Amid the turmoil, Zucker- He has two more states left, their concerns — he’s de-
wouldn’t be the primary Last week, Facebook’s top berg has renewed his pub- Kansas and Missouri. Zuck- flected any suggestions of
person talking about it,” lawyer testified in Congress lic focus on making Face- erberg was in St. Louis on a presidential run.q

Kindle with your kale? Amazon

to open shops in Whole Foods

By JOSEPH PISANI The move gives Amazon, brick-and-mortar book-
AP Retail Writer which bought Whole Foods stores.
NEW YORK (AP) — You this summer, another place The Seattle-based compa-
may see more of Amazon where shoppers can touch ny says that Whole Foods
inside Whole Foods soon: or try out its gadgets during stores in Chicago; Denver;
The online retailer, which the holiday shopping sea- Rochester Hills, Michigan;
has already been selling its son. Amazon has been ex- Davie, Florida; and Pasa-
voice-activated Echos at panding its brick-and-mor- dena, California, will open
Whole Foods, will start to tar presence: It recently Amazon pop-up stores
sell Kindles, Fire tablets and opened shops inside some next week. About 100 other
other Amazon devices at Kohl’s department stores stores will also have the de- In this Monday, Aug. 28, 2017, file photo, Amazon’s Echo and
Echo Dot appear on sale at a Whole Foods Market in New York.
its grocery stores. and it has opened a dozen vices available for sale.q Associated Press