LOS ANGELES, Calif. /CALIFORNIA NEWSWIRE/ — On Thursday (Oct. 3), Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass announced that her office will host the inaugural LA Sports & Entertainment Supplier Diversity Summit on Thursday, October, 2024 10 from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. to provide local businesses with support and resources to tap into opportunities that upcoming major sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will present. Angelenos can register to attend the Summit here.
“L.A. is home to the world’s best professional sports teams and many entertainment venues and attractions,” 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 Summit is part of our focused effort to help prepare them to tap into these exciting opportunities.”
The free event, open to the public, will be held at the Convention Center in Downtown Los Angeles and is sponsored by AEG and BMO. The event will include a fireside chat with Mayor Bass and Actress, Producer, Founder of The Honest Company, and member of the LA28 Board of Directors, Jessica Alba, moderated by BMO Vice Chairman Eric Smith in addition to workshops, networking opportunities, resources, and procurement guidance to help small businesses in Los Angeles compete for contracts, ensuring they benefit from these significant events.
“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.”
In addition to the fireside chat and resource expo, the Summit will feature three panels of experts, including from LA28 and the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission, so that attendees can hear directly from sports and entertainment executives, the leaders who are planning major upcoming sporting events like FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Games, and City Department officials who can break down steps to become “contract ready” to do business with the City and other government entities.
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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
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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
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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.
Earlier this week, Mayor Bass 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.
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This news item is based on press release issued by the Mayor’s office.
