What the 2028 Olympics means for businesses in this district
LA28 has committed to directing 25% of Olympic contracts to small businesses and keeping 75% of its spending inside Greater LA. That is real money — catering, laundry, transportation, construction, security, signage, hospitality, and more — and South LA and South Bay businesses can compete for it. Here is what's open now and how to get in.
Register where the contracts are posted
- RAMP LA (rampla.org) — the City of LA's official vendor marketplace. LA28 posts sourcing opportunities here. Register your business profile so buyers can find you.
- LA28 Supplier Portal (SupplierOne) — lets corporate and Games buyers discover your business directly.
- Compete4LA — a small-business database run by the LA Business Council Institute with the City of LA, built specifically to connect local small businesses with contractors on Olympics- and World Cup-related work.
Get certified — it opens more doors
- LASEC Business Connect — the official supplier program of the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission. Requires certification as minority-, woman-, LGBTQ+-, or veteran-owned, and feeds directly into LA28's supplier diversity program.
- Certification itself is usually free or low-cost through the certifying agencies; the LA County programs below can walk you through which certification fits your business.
Free workshops and bid-readiness help
- LA County Path to 2028 (Dept. of Economic Opportunity) — free workshops on public contracting, vendor registration, business certification, and bid readiness.
- APEX Accelerator (also run through LA County DEO) — contracting help and certification support for small business owners.
- Ascend LA — a small-business accelerator program run by the nonprofit Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
Financing for upfront contract costs
Winning a contract often means paying for materials or staff before you get paid. The City of LA, funded by Banc of California, runs a $1 million Contract Financing Program specifically to help small businesses cover those upfront costs on city and Games-related contracts.
Compton and the South Bay specifically
Local chambers of commerce (including the Compton Chamber of Commerce) are actively tracking Olympics-related opportunities and community impact for this area — connecting with your local chamber is a fast way to hear about opportunities as they open, alongside the citywide portals above.
Do this first
- Create a free profile on RAMP LA.
- Check whether your business qualifies for minority/woman/LGBTQ+/veteran-owned certification, and start that application — it's usually free.
- Sign up for one LA County Path to 2028 or APEX Accelerator workshop.
- Ask your local chamber of commerce what LA28-related activity they're tracking for this area.
None of this requires paying anyone. Every program above is free to register for or apply to.