In what can be seen as a bolstering maneuver for the local economy, Mayor Karen Bass and Los Angeles officials have announced a new wave of investments aimed at invigorating small, local, and minority-owned businesses through engagement with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). According to an announcement from the Mayor’s office, these investments fall under the recently unveiled $5 billion Multiple Award Task Order Contract (MATOC) associated with LAWA’s substantial Capital Improvement Program.
The recent MATOC initiative is set to include 51 contracts with 31 pre-qualified contractors, facilitating a faster contracting process, a move that Mayor Bass emphasized in her State of the City address as a step towards making government operations more efficient. According to Mayor Bass’s statement obtained by her office, “Today, we are celebrating the latest round of investments that will prioritize LA businesses and LA jobs, including 13 first-time prime contractors.” She underscored the importance of this initiative for local businesses like Lucas Builders Inc., which is a veteran-owned and family-owned local firm.
This influx of contracts is expected to expedite construction projects essential to the upcoming globally focused events in Los Angeles, such as the World Cup in 2026 and the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The spotlight will fall on small, local, and minority-owned firms, which have been contracted through MATOC. These contractors are provided a chance to showcase LA’s business capabilities in constructing and modernizing one of the world’s most recognized airports, as echoed by John Ackerman, LAWA’s CEO, who said, “Mayor Bass challenged us to not just build great airports, but to help build a great city.”
Councilwoman Traci Park also threw her support behind the investment. “With $5 billion in new contracting authority, we’re putting local businesses to work and preparing Los Angeles for the world stage,” she told the Mayor’s office. The MATOC represents not only a considerable opportunity for these businesses but also stands as a potential springboard for them to gain international recognition and further business opportunities. Karim Webb, President of the Board of Airport Commissioners, draws a parallel with past initiatives, stating, “Just as Mayor Tom Bradley championed investments in LAX decades ago to create generational wealth in Los Angeles, we’re doing the same today, ensuring local, small businesses thrive in this evolving ecosystem.”
