Los Angeles Business Council Statement on LABCi-PACE Collaboration

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The following is a statement provided by the Los Angeles Business Council:

“We applaud Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for launching the City’s new Procure LA initiative to provide local businesses with the support and resources they need to tap into opportunities that major sporting events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring to the L.A. region.

“Global events can create meaningful opportunities for local small and diverse businesses, but only if they are well-prepared to access – and win – their fair share of contracting opportunities.

“To ensure local small businesses are not left behind, the Los Angeles Business Council Institute (LABCi) is proud to announce a new collaboration with the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE) to promote the inclusion of diverse and minority-owned suppliers in procurement opportunities for the L.A. 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. PACE is a community-based leading business development center that provides extensive business training and direct technical assistance (TA), especially procurement assistance and business expansion support tools such as financing, insurance, and bonding. PACE was also awarded the agency to operate Mayor Karen Bass' new initiative, the ‘ProcureLA' program.

“Through the partnership, PACE will onboard its database of diverse employers and suppliers to LABCi’s Compete4LA platform - the region’s largest database of small, minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged suppliers. The two organizations will also coordinate to identify small businesses on Compete4LA in sectors related to the Games, such as hospitality and transportation, and connect them to PACE’s job training centers to better position themselves for success. Through Procure LA, PACE can assist these businesses in acquiring the necessary certifications and skills to compete for contracts, and ensure these global events benefit Angelenos and small businesses in communities throughout the region. It also offers services in several ethnic languages to best serve the diverse communities in Los Angeles, including English, Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Thai, Armenian, and Tagalog.”

About the Los Angeles Business Council Institute

The LABC Institute is a forward-thinking research and education organization dedicated to strengthening the sustainable economy of California. Founded in 2010, the Institute provides a bridge between the business, government, environmental, labor and nonprofit communities of Southern California to develop policies and programs that promote investment, jobs and business development. The Institute is the research and education arm of the Los Angeles Business Council, one of the most respected business advocacy organizations in the region. Founded in 1936, the LABC is known as an innovator and catalyst for policy development on a wide range of issues, including education, housing, green building, energy efficiency, transportation and solar development. For more information, please visit labusinesscouncil.org.