• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, May 11, 2017

Every so often Google likes to tout its contribution to the U.S. economy through an Economic Impact report. This year is no different.

Google's search and advertising tools in 2016 provided $222 billion of economic activity for 1.5 million businesses, Web site publishers, and nonprofits across the U.S., according to the company. Some 1.5 millionbusinesses, Web site publishers, and non-profits benefited from using AdWords and AdSense.

California's economy -- Google's home state -- benefited the most in 2016. The company's ad tools contributed $51 billion to the economy -- about $313,000 by California businesses, Web site publishers, and nonprofits using its advertising tools AdWords and AdSense in 2016.

One of those businesses, Walker & Company, sells products designed to offer people of color a range of high-quality health and beauty products. This company, founded by Tristan Walker, uses nearly every Google tool, from AdWords to Docs. It has enabled the company to expand worldwide.

In addition to thriving for-profit businesses, about 106 million of free advertising was provided to California non-profits. More than 35,000 Californians are employed full-time by Google at offices in Mountain View, Beverly Hills, Irvine, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Bruno.

New York came in at No. 2, with Google's advertising tools contributing $32.7 billion to the state's economy. About 119,000 New York businesses, Web site publishers, and nonprofits benefited in 2016. The report also notes that $72.1 million of free advertising was provided to New York non-profits. More than 6,000 are employed by Google in New York's offices in Clifton Park and New York City.

In Utah, where Google's ad products contributed $3.34 billion to the economy, the company featured the mattress company Purple in the report.

Purple -- with 600 employees -- began selling exclusively online in 2016, according to the report. The company uses YouTube to help consumers get a feel for their mattresses by showcasing the technology through videos.

Bryant Garvin, director of marketing at Purple, told Google that the company counts on Google Analytics to track Web traffic and gain valuable insights about their customers. AdWords, Google’s advertising program, helps them drive revenue and build awareness internationally, while G Suite tools Gmail, Docs, and Drive keep their employees as flexible as their polymer.