Los Angeles is preparing local businesses for another wave of major-event contracting opportunities, with the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games now at the center of the effort.
For small businesses, the opportunity may be significant, but getting a contract is not automatic. Businesses need to know where opportunities are posted, understand procurement requirements and be ready to compete before the work is awarded.
One place to start is the City of Los Angeles’ third annual Sports and Entertainment Procurement Summit, scheduled for Sept. 28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
The free event will connect local businesses with sports, entertainment and government procurement opportunities. According to the Mayor’s Office, the summit will include procurement guidance, networking and matchmaking appointments between businesses and prime contractors. Last year’s summit attracted more than 1,600 local businesses and entrepreneurs.
For businesses interested in potentially winning work connected to LA28 or other major events, here are some practical steps to take now.
1. Know where the opportunities will be posted
The City says procurement opportunities connected to the 2028 Games will be posted through the Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement, or RAMP-LA.
Businesses can register through RAMP-LA and monitor opportunities as they become available.
The City also directs businesses to its Business Navigator resources for assistance.
This matters because major contracts often involve prime contractors and subcontractors. A small business does not necessarily have to compete for the largest contract directly to participate in the supply chain.
2. Get contract-ready before an opportunity appears
Waiting until a contract is posted can leave a business scrambling.
Businesses should have basic information ready, including:
- Business registration and licensing information
- A current capability statement
- Examples of previous work
- Insurance documentation
- Relevant certifications
- Financial information needed for contracting
- A clear description of products or services
- Contact information for the person responsible for pursuing contracts
Businesses should also determine whether they qualify for applicable City or state small-business, local-business or other certification programs.
The City provides information about its contracting and business-certification programs through the Bureau of Contract Administration.
3. Look beyond the City itself
The biggest opportunities surrounding major events will not necessarily come directly from Los Angeles City Hall.
Large projects can create contracting opportunities through organizations, venues, event operators, construction firms, hospitality companies, transportation providers and other prime contractors.
That makes relationship-building important.
A small company that cannot compete for a multimillion-dollar prime contract may still be positioned to provide catering, transportation, security, printing, technology, marketing, maintenance, construction, staffing, professional services or other specialized work.
The City’s procurement strategy specifically includes helping local, small and historically underutilized businesses prepare to participate in the broader contracting ecosystem surrounding the Games.
4. Use the time before 2028 to build a track record
The 2028 Games are still ahead, which means businesses do not have to wait for Olympic-related opportunities to begin preparing.
The City says its ProcureLA program has already helped local and small businesses secure more than $45 million in public and private-sector contracts and is designed to help businesses compete for major contracts connected to upcoming events, including the 2028 Games.
That suggests an important strategy for smaller companies: use today’s opportunities to become more competitive for tomorrow’s larger ones.
A business that can demonstrate successful work for a city department, venue, prime contractor or other large organization may be better positioned when larger opportunities become available.
5. Understand what “opportunity” actually means
The potential economic impact of LA28 is substantial, but businesses should distinguish between an overall economic projection and an individual contracting opportunity.
The Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation estimates that planning, preparing for and hosting the 2028 Games could generate up to $40.6 billion in economic output and more than 200,000 jobs across the region. Those are regional economic estimates, not guarantees of revenue or contracts for individual businesses.
For a business owner, the more useful question is narrower:
What can my company actually sell, who might buy it and what do I need to qualify?
That could mean identifying a specific service, finding the companies that purchase it and getting onto the appropriate vendor or subcontractor lists.
6. Start with the resources available now
The City has created several programs intended to help businesses prepare.
The Mayor’s Games for All resources direct businesses to RAMP-LA for procurement opportunities, the City’s Business Navigator for business assistance and ProcureLA for procurement preparation and counseling.
Businesses can also follow Parriva’s California small-business coverage for reporting on funding, regulations, contracting, entrepreneurship and other developments affecting local businesses.
What businesses should do next
If your company wants to pursue major-event contracting, the best time to prepare is before the next opportunity is posted.
Start by:
1. Registering with RAMP-LA.
2. Reviewing your licenses, insurance and certifications.
3. Creating or updating a one-page capability statement.
4. Identifying the products or services you can realistically provide.
5. Researching prime contractors and organizations likely to need those services.
6. Attending procurement and matchmaking events.
7. Tracking opportunities instead of waiting for someone to contact you.
The 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games are creating a long runway for preparation. The Sept. 28 procurement summit is one opportunity for businesses to begin making those connections.
The larger question for Los Angeles businesses is not simply whether major events will create economic activity.
It is whether individual businesses are prepared to compete for the work when that activity turns into contracts.
