Supporting Local Small Businesses Through Procurement: Lessons from the City of Long Beach
Thursday, October 22, 2026
2:00 PM Eastern / 11:00 AM Pacific
Making opportunities available isn't always enough. Agencies also need to make them accessible.
The City of Long Beach has spent several years rethinking how procurement engages its local business community, from simplifying purchasing processes and expanding local preferences to forecasting opportunities, conducting direct outreach, and connecting businesses with City departments.
Join SOVRA and the City of Long Beach for a practitioner-led conversation about what that transformation looks like in practice.
What you'll learn:
How Long Beach reduced barriers for local and small businesses.
How policy changes and local preference programs can expand participation.
Why early visibility into upcoming contracts matters.
How outreach, education, matchmaking, and community partnerships can strengthen supplier engagement.
What Long Beach has learned from bringing procurement directly into the business community.
Register now
