About
Compete4LA was launched in 2022 as a first-of-its-kind database of small businesses throughout L.A. County who can best compete for contracts in support of major sports and entertainment events.
The goal was to level the playing field for small businesses.
In response to the 2025 LA wildfires, the database expanded to include small businesses in disaster-impacted areas as well as vendors prepared to support regional recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The goal was to drive regional economic resilience.
About
The database identifies businesses specializing in the following categories:
- Arts, Entertainment & Recreation
- Transportation & Warehousing
- Retail Trade
- Wholesale Trade
- Manufacturing
- Administrative Support, Waste Management & Remediation Services
- Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- Accommodation & Food Service
- Construction
- Real Estate Rental and Leasing
- Information Services
History
Compete4LA was modeled after the success of a similar program built in the United Kingdom by BiP Solutions for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games. Roughly 12,000 contracts were awarded through the London CompeteFor program totaling £2.6 billion. Notably, 40% of these contracts went to London-based businesses, and three-quarters were awarded to small and medium-sized enterprises.
Recognizing its success, the LABC Institute contracted BiP Solutions in 2017 to conduct a feasibility study, which identified best practices for connecting local underserved businesses with public and private sector supply chain opportunities arising from major events coming to Los Angeles. That study paved the way for Compete4LA, a digital clearinghouse focused on creating opportunities for local businesses that have historically lacked access to contracts supporting global events in L.A.
LABC Institute Leadership Council Co-Chairs
Oak Knoll Advisors, LASEC
The Los Angeles City Tourism Board of Commissioners
LABC Institute Leadership Council
Erikk Aldridge
LA28
Leticia Avalos
Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co.
Ken Billups
AECOM
Sonya Blake
The Valley Economic Alliance
Noah Boro
Turner Construction Co.
Scott Bosarge
AEG Anshutz Entertainment Group
Sarah Bowles
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Miguel Cabral
Metro Transportation Authority / LA Metro
Maria Camacho
Los Angeles Rams
Tricia Carey
Port of Los Angeles
Mike Castillo
City of Los Angeles
Cindy Chen
The Office of Supervisor Hilda Solis
Stephen Cheung
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Stephanie Cohen
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Sharon Coleman
National Association of Minority Contractors
Cameron De Boer Reyes
Coca Cola Bottling
Kerry Doi
PACE
Motz Feinberg
Cedars-Sinai Health System
Garrett Gin
Bank of America
Stephanie Graves
Lee Andrews Group
Bob Graziano
Oak Knoll Advisors, LASEC
Gene Hale
G & C Equipment Corporation
Carolyn Hull
Los Angeles Economic and Workforce Development Department
Dennis Huang
Asian Business Association
Denise Jackson
Office of Councilmember Harris-Dawson
Shatarra Jackson
Hathaway Dinwiddie Construction Co.
Travis Kiyota
East West Bank
Paul Krekorian
City of Los Angeles
Adam Lane
WAYMO
Anna Lantin
HDR, Inc.
Kelly LoBianco
LA County Department of Economic Opportunity
Connor Lock
Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson
Greg Mahdesian
Servicon Systems, Inc.
Antonio Manning
Affordable Living for the Aging
Bo Martinez
City of Long Beach
Beau McDonald
USC
Lynda McGlinchey
City of Los Angeles
Amber Meshack
Los Angeles World Airports
Claudette Moody
CAM Consulting
Mark Morales
AmPac Business Capital
Nam Nguyen
National Football League
Andrew Parker
Trammell Crow Company
Star Parsamyan
Office of Councilmember Traci Park
Saundra Price
W.E. O’Neil Construction
Mikal Quarles
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Joseph Ramallo
LADWP
Lily Rocha
Latino Restaurant Association
John Reamer
City of Los Angeles
Schenae Rourk
Redwood Resources
Jasmin Sakai-Gonzalez
UNITE-LA
Maricruz Saucedo
AEG Anshutz Entertainment Group
Robert Sausedo
Community Build Inc.
Paul Silvern
HR&A Advisors
Tashai Smith
Metro Transportation Authority / LA Metro
Kim Snyder
Prologis
Amanda Staples
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Ali Tarzi
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Adena Tessler
Hospital Association of Southern California
Marquita Thomas
LA LGBT Chamber of Commerce
Joss Tillard-Gates
Clark Construction Group
Caroline Torosis
The Office of Supervisor Holly Mitchell
Darnell Tyler
NBCUniversal
Jon Vein
The Los Angeles City Tourism Board of Commissioners
Kirk von Spaeth
HDR, Inc.
Kecia Washington
LADWP
Nadine Watt
Watt Capital Partners
Libby Williams
Office of Mayor Karen Bass
Nicole Williams
LISC
Jimar Wilson
Enterprise Community Partners
Michelle Wright
Conn Cisco Systems, Inc.