Overview
On October 8, 2026, the Port of Long Beach welcomed 600 attendees to its inaugural Small Business Summit at The Westin Long Beach. The Summit brought together small businesses, public agencies, and industry partners for a day of learning, networking, and opportunities to connect with government buyers.
Start Here
Whether you’re new to doing business with the Port or looking to expand your contracting opportunities, our Compete with Confidence Checklist provides you with a step-by-step roadmap to doing business with the Port. Use it to register as a vendor, understand what the Port procures, explore contracting opportunities, apply for certification (if eligible), learn how to navigate the procurement process, and stay connected.
Summit Overview
The Port of Long Beach’s inaugural Small Business Summit brought together 600 attendees for a day focused on building connections, strengthening business capabilities, and expanding access to government contracting opportunities.
Representatives from public agencies across Long Beach joined financial institutions, technical assistance organizations, and community partners to help small businesses better understand the procurement landscape and connect with potential buyers.
Through interactive workshops, peer discussions, and one-on-one engagements, participants explored practical strategies for navigating the procurement process, strengthening their competitiveness, and preparing for future contracting opportunities. A special fireside chat with LA28 offered additional insight into opportunities associated with the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Summit created space for businesses to build relationships, learn from public-sector partners, and identify actionable next steps toward pursuing government contracts with greater confidence.
The Port of Long Beach extends its sincere thanks to ACEC, BMO, Conaway Geomatics, and Long Beach Airport for supporting the inaugural Small Business Summit. Their generous contributions helped make the event possible and reflect a shared commitment to strengthening the small business community.
Watch the Recap
Revisit the conversations, educational sessions, and connections that made the inaugural Summit a meaningful gathering for the small business community. Watch the highlights to experience memorable moments from the day and see how the Port of Long Beach brought small businesses, public agencies, and industry partners together to explore new opportunities.
Summit Photo Gallery
Explore moments from the Port of Long Beach’s inaugural Small Business Summit, featuring the people, conversations, and collaborations that brought the day to life. Browse the gallery to revisit the workshops, networking opportunities, and connections among small businesses, public agencies, and community partners.
Resources and Presentations
Continue learning with resources from the 2026 Small Business Summit. Review the event agenda and exhibitor map, and explore presentations from breakout sessions and afternoon workshops for practical insights into government procurement, contract readiness, proposal development, business growth, and more.
Revisit the Summit agenda for an overview of the day’s schedule and sessions, and explore the exhibitor map to learn more about the participating organizations.
| Title | Size | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Agenda & Schedule | 113.85 KB | DownloadPreview |
| Exhibitor Hall Map | 370.33 KB | DownloadPreview |
Explore presentations from the Summit’s breakout sessions and afternoon workshop. These resources cover key topics to help small businesses strengthen their capabilities, navigate public-sector procurement, develop competitive proposals, and prepare for contracting opportunities.
News & Media
Read the Port of Long Beach’s announcement of its inaugural 2026 Small Business Summit, outlining the event’s focus on connecting small businesses with public agencies, industry partners, and government contracting opportunities.
| Title | Size | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business Summit Press Release | 523.00 B | Download |
| Small Business Summit Announcement Video | N/A | Download |
