LA officials not confident 2028 Olympics will help local economy

Ahead of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, the LA28 committee Friday heard some harsh criticism from member of the LA City Council as some LA officials complained they have not seen specific plans by the organizing committee to protect the interest of taxpayers and local businesses.

In the lead up to the Olympics, billions of dollars were projected to rain down on Southern California businesses, according to LA28 officials.

A procurement plan by the organizing committee showed how it plans to approach the hiring and purchasing it will take to put on the games. LA28’s goal is to direct 75% of spending goods and services to local businesses and 25% to small businesses.

However, the LA City Council’s Olympic committee said the procurement plan did not entail specifics and guarantees to periodize businesses in the city of LA.

“This is a whole new Olympiad in trying to end-run our own procedures in the city of LA. (It) doesn’t feel like much of a partnership, and it’s disappointing,” Councilmember Monica Rodriguez said.

City officials said the plan must put city businesses first, as opposed to in the entire region of Southern California.

“I can’t imagine if I’m a business owner, and I’m competing to do business with someone in Barstow or in Yucaipa,” City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said.

Rodriguez said they need answers, saying LA28 officials made “unfulfilled promises.”

Olympic organizers are speaking with small business owners in LA so they can participate in the procurement program. Lolita Lopez reports for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

LA28 held a roundtable discussion with local business last week, looking to bring awareness to Olympic opportunities.

Greg Plummer who owns Concord Collective, said he feels confident that he will be able to navigate contract bids with LA28.

“I would say kudos to because they have made a very concerted intentional effort about outreach to the small business community,” Plummer said. “However, a lot of companies can be intimidated by the process, and that was one of the things that we expressed as a concern.”

LA28 declined to speak with NBC Los Angeles but its CEO Reynold Hoover told the city council on Monday that the games will prioritize LA businesses as long as they make sense for the event financially.

“I have to deliver these games in a fiscally responsible way, and if every single bidder in the city of LA charges premium Olympic prices, then we will go into the backstop,” Hoover said.

LA28 and the city did not solidify a services agreement as of Friday although the contract was supposed to be signed in October.

“I think it still begs the question about what the outstanding expenses are going to be and how it is applied to other cities,” Councilmember Rodriguez said. “The ball’s in LA28’s court, so we’re waiting on a response from LA28 at this juncture.”

City council members tried to nail down just how much money local businesses could expect to see. According to the LA28 CEO, about $4 billion could go to local businesses, including $1 billion to small businesses.”