Small Business Development Program

In February 2007, the Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously adopted a Small Business Development Program (SBDP) for all Port of Los Angeles construction and personal services contract awards. The action taken by the Board demonstrates the Port’s commitment to small businesses, and recognizes this significant community resource can contribute to the growth of the Port of Los Angeles and provide economic benefits for the City of Los Angeles.

The Port's Contracts and Purchasing Division has been charged with the responsibility to implement, administer, and report quarterly to the Board regarding program effectiveness. The Port's Executive Director, Dr. Geraldine Knatz, has set an overall department goal of 25% for small business participation in Port contracts.

Working with Port staff, Contracts and Purchasing performs outreach to the entire business community and encourages those businesses that desire Port contract opportunities to register with e-DiversityXchange, (DX). DX is a comprehensive, online contractor/supplier registration, and contract management system. DX provides access to an industry specific contractor directory for researching, sourcing, and managing contract opportunities for large and small businesses, and for identifying potential sub-contracting opportunities associated with contract awards issued by the Port. DX is authorized to work on the Port’s behalf to collect, manage, and report on all information entered into the system, and to provide support to the Port and our business community.

Both the Board and Port staff are committed to the Small Business Development Program. We are anxious to provide contracting opportunities through e-DiversityXchange to all businesses (including women-owned and minority-owned businesses) by providing a pool of specifically matched, industry related potential sub-contractors, with less paperwork, and a more targeted way of doing business.

Port of Los Angeles staff looks forward to working with all businesses, both large and small, as participation increases in this new Port initiative.