LOS ANGELES COUNTY – A motion by Supervisors Kathryn Barger and Janice Hahn, which aims to support and enhance the growth and expansion of small and medium-sized businesses, was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors. The motion calls for enhancements to county contracting opportunities, particularly for medium-sized businesses, and includes local businesses who struggle to bid for county contracts against well-established and large firms.
“By working in partnership with businesses of all sizes, this effort creates a ‘ladder of growth’ that helps companies grow from small to medium and from medium to large,” Barger said. “This enhances our county’s economic growth, creates jobs, and produces even more opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs looking to compete and succeed in the marketplace.”
With a GDP of over $700 billion and a population of over 10 million, L.A. County is well-situated to expand its economic focus toward creating opportunities that help grow local businesses.
“There are plenty of businesses that are too big to qualify for the county’s small business incentives, but not big enough yet to compete with the corporations we often do business with,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “These are the businesses that have long been overlooked and where contracting opportunities could make the difference in helping them grow and create jobs.”
This motion asks the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs to assess the feasibility of implementing incentive programs to encourage large enterprises to partner with medium and small businesses. Along with bid-pricing preferences, and support for minority and disabled veteran-owned businesses, it also asks for a pilot program along with an analysis and a proposed framework for a ‘ladder of growth’ program that supports local small and medium business enterprises along the business continuum. The board will receive a report back in 90 days.