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Deb Membrano urges Pasadena businesses to sign up for LA28, Super Bowl and FIFA procurement opportunities
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Summary
City economic development official Deb Membrano told Pasadena in Focus that the city is collecting resources and advising local firms to register on supplier lists, obtain certifications and pursue subcontracting opportunities tied to LA28, the Super Bowl and FIFA events.
Deb Membrano, a representative from Pasadena’s economic development office, urged local businesses to register for supplier notifications and procurement lists tied to major regional events including LA28, the NFL Super Bowl and FIFA competitions.
“In the city of Pasadena, you may know we’re hosting the finals and semifinals for soccer, as well as all of the diving...so there are different ways that Pasadena businesses can get involved,” Membrano said, and she encouraged firms to sign up on agency supplier lists and monitor procurement websites.
Why it matters: Large events can generate dozens of short-term contracts and subcontracting opportunities for local firms in areas such as logistics, security, staging and laundry. Membrano said LA28 has explicit sourcing targets and that event organizers and agencies publish procurement pathways that businesses must follow to compete.
Membrano gave concrete guidance: businesses should seek relevant certifications (for example, veteran-, Asian- or LGBTQ-owned business designations when applicable), sign up on city and regional supplier lists, and work with partner organizations to prepare bids. “We want them to make sure that their suppliers, not only for the city of Pasadena, but also for Los Angeles, all of these agencies or organizations have their own way of procuring contracts,” she said.
City supports and partner resources: Membrano said the city has assembled a central web page in the economic development section of cityofpasadena.net that summarizes opportunities and will be updated as new procurement notices arrive. She also pointed to local partners — the Women’s Business Center and the Small Business Development Center at Pasadena City College — and mentioned Business Connect as a free advising resource tied to Super Bowl opportunities.
Membrano recommended that businesses that are unlikely to be prime contractors consider subcontracting and partnerships. “Maybe some of them aren’t prepared to be primes...there’s ways for them to also be subcontractors and partner with other businesses,” she said.
Next steps: Membrano advised interested businesses to visit the city’s economic development web page, sign up for notifications on event and agency sites, pursue needed certifications, and contact economic development staff for one-on-one assistance.
The city did not provide a single centralized application deadline during the interview; Membrano said different events and agencies set their own dates and deadlines.
