Leah Goold Haws on Branding Long Beach as an Attractive Destination for Business Growth & Workforce Development (LBEP)

For our readers' benefit, please share the Long Beach Economic Partnership's mission and how you assess the progress you've made in achieving that mission?

Absolutely. The Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) is the economic development organization working on behalf of the City of Long Beach and its multiple partners. Our mission primarily focuses on business attraction, expansion, and retention. If you look at the language in our current mission statement, it includes entrepreneurship as part of that, along with a global vision. This has been illustrated by the inclusion of the World Trade Center Long Beach under our umbrella. It's really about promoting the brand of Long Beach, making it recognizable as an attractive destination for business growth, workforce growth, and access to a thriving economy supported by leadership committed to business.

Share LBEP’s origin story and current board leadership.

To give you some context, LBEP was launched in 2019, stemming from the Economic Commission, which I was part of at the time. In those discussions, setting up this economic development organization was highlighted as part of the blueprint, and the city just released the latest edition of that blueprint. Under the leadership of our former mayor, now Congressman Garcia, the need for this organization was recognized, and that's where it all began.

2019, of course, was just before the pandemic hit. So, when the organization got underway, much of the focus shifted to business resiliency and sustainability. The board's leadership came from a broad spectrum of viewpoints. We had people from local business development, micro-enterprises, and small businesses, along with partners from healthcare, education, and major industry sectors like finance and real estate, as well as city leaders. It was a diverse mix of individuals invested in the city’s growth.

During the pandemic, LBEP was dedicated to supporting small businesses and helping the city deploy grant funds. I came on board part-time as a consultant in 2022 and then took on the role of CEO and president at the end of 2023. At that point, post-pandemic, we were able to redirect the organization’s efforts from a micro to a more macro perspective. This has positioned us to attract businesses, not just domestically but also internationally, and prepare Long Beach for its role on the global stage, particularly with the 2028 Olympics coming up.

Pivoting to the Port of Long Beach, POLB has long played a significant role in Long Beach's economic trajectory and now is integrally engaged in a  $4.7 billion initiative to build a floating offshore wind facility known as Pier Wind. Share the role of the port today and the promise of that offshore project.

The Port of Long Beach is truly an innovator, especially in its commitment to clean energy and environmental stewardship. Being an oceanside community, we have neighborhoods close to the port and the corridor through which trucks leave the port facilities. The port has worked hard to make itself a cleaner facility and a true partner with the city. If you look at their efforts going back to 2005, they've reduced diesel soot emissions by about 92%, among other types of emissions, which is remarkable.

The offshore wind project, Pier Wind, represents another major opportunity, not just for clean energy but for local employment and new skill sets. The port’s dedication to innovation in clean energy and the clean supply chain is something we at LBEP are also focused on. It aligns with broader goals in the city, including the mayor’s ambitions and the Long Beach Accelerator’s efforts to promote innovation.

Offshore wind turbines, like those Pier Wind will rely upon, present an opportunity to attract manufacturing and other industries to Long Beach. Is there room for such growth near the Port; any incentives?

That's a great question. I think there are significant opportunities, whether for local employment or setting up manufacturing for offshore wind here in Long Beach. However, the challenges lie in identifying the right type of real estate to accommodate those ambitions, as well as navigating regulatory concerns. That’s where Long Beach stands out—we’re committed to working with businesses to help them establish and grow here. While I can’t point to a specific list of go-to incentives, they certainly exist, and the city is willing to develop them as needed to foster that growth.

Leah, you joined a VerdeXchange panel last May featuring public-private partnerships currently advancing Air Mobility with the City of Long Beach. Please update our readers on the status of such partnerships.

The advanced Air Mobility Taskforce that LBEP facilitated has been one of the highlights of my work over the past year and a half. We convened around 10 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to discuss this emerging, competitive space—advanced air mobility, which includes drone taxis. We brought together a range of civic and city leadership to identify gaps and solutions. The city of Long Beach is very interested, especially as we look toward the 2028 Olympics and explore alternative transportation options, particularly zero-emission ones.

We’ve already conducted an economic impact analysis, looking at what would be required to set up take-off and landing nodes in Long Beach and LA. We also applied for the SMART federal grant in partnership with the Long Beach Airport. While we didn’t receive it on our first attempt, we got meaningful feedback and are continuing to push forward with these efforts. The airport’s commitment to sound abatement and emission reduction fits well with these air mobility vehicles.

Long Beach currently is updating its Downtown Shoreline Vision Plan. Might a new plan catalyze economic development and attract shoreline investment?

The shoreline opportunity is unique, particularly in California where ocean-adjacent development is rare. The city has been working through regulatory concerns and is now in a position to proceed with several projects. The downtown corridor, which leads right to the ocean, is a major focus. With key areas like Shoreline Village and the Convention Center nearby, there’s real excitement around the potential growth.

We’re seeing a strong commitment from the city to make sure these projects get off the ground soon, and from our perspective at LBEP, it’s an exciting time for business development, particularly for small businesses and the workforce. I think, as we approach the 2028 Olympics, there’s a renewed motivation to ensure these opportunities become realities.

How does LBEP current agenda align with Mayor Rex Richardson's Opportunity agenda?

The mayor has been very clear that Long Beach’s future depends on its economic growth and sustainability. He’s a strong supporter of small businesses, especially as we come out of the pandemic. His administration is committed to providing business services and credit access, and we align with that. We work closely with his team, especially his economic development office, to promote and support the city’s priority industry sectors: supply chain and logistics, aerospace, healthcare, education, tourism, and hospitality.

LBEP has also launched industry councils to support additional sectors like real estate, investment, technology, and clean energy. We share the mayor’s vision, particularly around fostering a more sustainable, clean-energy-focused economy.

Before concluding, address the decline of Long Beach’s oil revenues on Mayor Richardson and LBEP’s ambitions. How is Long Beach planning to replace this revenue?

Long Beach has a historic relationship with fossil fuels, but the mayor has made it clear that we’re committed to transitioning to clean energy. While this transition comes with its challenges, particularly for small businesses, the mayor’s ambitions set the tone for the types of companies we want to attract to Long Beach to help bridge this transition period. We’re working to balance the city’s needs with its commitment to sustainable energy.

Lastly, how is Long Beach, which is hosting a number of sport venues, preparing to maximize the ’28 Olympics opportunity?

Hosting the Olympics is, of course, a huge opportunity for any city, and it goes beyond attracting visitors and building venues. For Long Beach, this moment is about positioning ourselves on the global stage. The Olympics are a catalyst, but the real goal is ensuring Long Beach continues to grow its economy and its brand long after the games are over. We have an incredible opportunity to showcase our strengths, and the momentum from the Olympics can help drive Long Beach’s future success.