FORM + DESIGN was honoured today to host the 2013 Google eTown award, which this year was awarded to the North Sydney Council. Martin Ellis, representing North Sydney Council accepted the award on behalf of the Mayor of North Sydney Jilly Gibson.

We were also fortunate to be joined by the Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey and Goggle Australia's CEO Maile Carnegie who handed out the award.

In a blog on Google Australia's web-site, they commented, "...Inspired by the example of North Sydney and FORM+DESIGN, we hope to see many more regions and small businesses across Australia realise the potential of the web to grow their business, create jobs, and contribute to Australia’s economy. Small businesses employ over five million people or almost half of Australia’s jobs, and generate a third of our economic activity, so the growth that the web can bring to these businesses is a big deal."

Google's eTown Award is awarded to a town in Australia whose small businesses are making the best use of the web to attract customers and grow revenue. North Sydney is this year's winner of the award, and FORM + DESIGN was chosen as a stand-out example of what the award is all about.