ports

Long Beach Port Distributes $54M to Small Business Contractors

The Port of Long Beach awarded more than $54 million in contracts to small business enterprises during its fiscal year, representing nearly 45% of all eligible spending. The port's Small Business Enterprise Program exceeded its 27% participation goal, marking the third-highest utilization rate since the initiative launched in 2004. Port leadership conducted over 40 outreach events throughout the year to expand contractor engagement. The program targets companies designated as small or very small business enterprises. The latter category matches California's microbusiness standards—firms with $5 million or less in annual gross sales over the previous three fiscal years, or manufacturers employing 25 or fewer workers. Port executives view small business participation as essential to achieving strategic expansion goals, citing the sector's importance to broader economic development.