Summit Drew Thousands of RSVPs from Angelenos Looking to Connect to Opportunities and Resources Ahead of L.A. Hosting Major World Events Like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced the launch of a new program ‘ProcureLA’ to create a pipeline of businesses that are ready and equipped to win contracting opportunities ahead of major upcoming events in the region. Through the program, businesses will receive one-on-one consultation from the City’s Business Source Centers, training and assistance with certification, proposal development, registration to procurement portals and so much more to equip small businesses for successful bidding. Mayor Bass spoke at the Summit alongside Actress, Producer and Founder of The Honest Company, and member of the LA28 Board of Directors Jessica Alba and moderator BMO Vice Chairman Eric Smith. Broll of the Summit will be available here.
“We are launching a new program ‘ProcureLA’ to help small businesses prepare to compete for contracting and business opportunities ahead of upcoming major sporting and entertainment events,” said Mayor Bass. “I want to make sure City Hall is helping our small and local businesses access opportunities that these economic drivers present and are supported as we gear up for major sporting events like the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games which will generate billions of dollars in economic impact here in our region. L.A. businesses should benefit from the major upcoming events that L.A. will host, so this new program and today’s Summit are part of our focused effort to help prepare them to tap into these exciting opportunities.”
The free event was held at the Convention Center in Downtown Los Angeles and sponsored by AEG and BMO. In addition to the fireside chat with Mayor Bass and resource expo, attendees heard directly from sports and entertainment executives, including from LA28 and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission. The leaders provided insights into their planning and preparation of major upcoming sporting events. City Department officials also broke down steps to become “contract ready” to do business with the City and other government entities.
Panel: Game Changers I Economic Impact on Mega Events
ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT host, Kevin Frazier
LA Galaxy President, Tom Braun
LA Kings Chief Operating Officer, Kelly Cheeseman
AXS President (North America), Tom Andrus
Panel: Monumental Opportunities
Univision Los Angeles News Anchor, Gabriela Teissier
LA Sports & Entertainment Commission President & CEO, Kathryn Schloessman
LA28 Vice President of Impact, Erikk Aldridge
Univision Los Angeles President, Jesus Chávez
LABC & LABC Institute President, Mary Leslie
Panel: Procure LA!
LA City Economic & Workforce Development Department Assistant Chief Grants Administrator, Rosa Penaloza
LA City Bureau of Contract Administration General Manager, John Reamer
LA City Office of Procurement Deputy Chief Procurement Officer, Leah Chu
Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) Chief Operating Officer, Billy Chun
LA County Department of Economic Development Supervisor, Apex Accelerator, Enrique Gonzalez
Mayor Bass is committed to ensuring that upcoming major sporting events like the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games benefit Angelenos and small businesses for generations to come. Last year, the City of Los Angeles helped hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs secure more than $18 million in small business support.
“AEG is proud to sponsor this summit that is not only important to Los Angeles and the numerous sporting events coming to our City but it is also vital for the hundreds of local and diverse business that will find new opportunities to create economic growth while providing training and jobs to an ever-expanding local workforce,” said Scott Bosarge, Senior Vice President, Business Services AEG. “With everyone’s support, together we can grow small businesses throughout the region, strengthen our supplier base, increase our competitive edge in the global economy and drive positive change throughout our city.”
“Supplier diversity is critically important to sustainable economic growth and helps companies better understand and serve diverse customer segments,” said Eric Smith, Vice Chair of BMO bank. “BMO is proud to have been a presenting sponsor of the inaugural LA Sports and Entertainment Summit, which brought together leaders, experts, and local business owners and showcased the incredible potential that diverse suppliers bring to the table, particularly in the sports and entertainment industry. Mayor Bass has long championed equity and inclusion, and BMO shares in her vision for an LA where every business, regardless of size or background, has the opportunity to thrive.”
Mayor Bass recently announced the graduation of nearly 100 Angelenos from the first-ever LApreneur program class following a ceremony in City Hall. Mayor Bass launched the LApreneur program in May to streamline entrepreneurship education and resources on a new online learning platform that equips business owners with key skills and information to succeed.
The City has helped hundreds of small businesses secure more than $18 million to support the opening and growth of their business since Mayor Bass enacted Executive Directive 4, focused on small businesses. Along with assistance securing financial capital, the Mayor’s Office has helped businesses navigate permitting approval processes and other City department processes to accelerate business openings and growth.
Mayor Bass signed Executive Directive 4 in June 2023 to support small business creation, growth and development in the city. B-roll and photos from the ED 4 signing ceremony are available here. Read the ED4 2024 Annual Progress Report here.