Long Beach Economic Partnership

What Long Beach Economic Partnership does

Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) is a private non-profit economic development organization headquartered at 100 W Broadway, Suite 120 in Long Beach, California, founded in 2019 as the citywide successor to the Downtown Development Corporation (originally established in 2012). LBEP operates as the City of Long Beach's designated public-private partnership for economic development, working under the Mayor's office and Economic Development Department to attract, expand, and retain businesses. The organization serves a horizontal base of Long Beach businesses alongside targeted vertical industry sectors—supply chain and logistics, aerospace and advanced air mobility, healthcare, tourism and hospitality, education and talent pipeline, and clean energy—plus international investors reached through the World Trade Center Long Beach.

LBEP organizes its work around three pillars—Business & Industry, Promotion & Attraction, and Technology & Future Focus—and delivers services through a portfolio of initiatives including World Trade Center Long Beach (relaunched in May 2024 under an MOU with the Port of Long Beach), Advanced Air Mobility (a taskforce of approximately 10 OEMs), Launch Beach / Grow Long Beach Coalition (a 100 Startups Campaign), Industry Profile Reports, and digital inclusion and talent pipeline programs. Signature events include the Annual Long Beach Economic Forum (300+ attendees) and the All Ready Here Site Selectors Conference; LBEP also represents Long Beach at SelectUSA and Select LA Investment Summits. The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; its offering is fundamentally a service and convening platform built on relationships, content (research reports and industry profiles), and event programming.

The revenue model is a tiered annual membership structure—Board of Governors, Executive Committee, and General Membership—supplemented by multi-year investment commitments from the City of Long Beach and the Sunstone Community Fund, plus event sponsorships and partnership support. LBEP employs 8 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors led by Chairman Weston LaBar, Immediate Past Chairman Ryan Altoon, and Founding Chairman Randal Hernandez. Following the departure of CEO Leah Goold-Haws effective July 31, 2025, Courtney Russell was appointed as CEO in February 2026, signaling a forthcoming rebrand to 'Invest Long Beach'.

Name

Long Beach Economic Partnership

Legal name

Long Beach Economic Partnership

Website

https://lbep.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: LBEP generates revenue through membership fees at three tiers: Board of Governors, Executive Committee, and General Membership. Each tier offers progressively different benefits including sponsorship recognition, speaking opportunities, website recognition, and exclusive access to industry councils.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) is a non-profit public-private economic development organization that promotes business attraction, expansion, and retention in Long Beach, California. It delivers services including site selection assistance, incentive program navigation, talent pipeline development, industry research and reports, and international trade promotion through the World Trade Center Long Beach. Membership-based programs and signature events (such as the Annual Economic Forum and Site Selectors Conference) form the core engagement channels with the local and regional business community.

Product overview

Long Beach Economic Partnership (LBEP) is a non-profit economic development organization that serves as a platform of initiatives and services rather than a unified software product. The organization operates through three core pillars—Business & Industry, Promotion & Attraction, and Technology & Future Focus—each driving distinct initiatives. Key products include the World Trade Center Long Beach (trade/investment promotion), Industry Profile Reports (research), Advanced Air Mobility initiative, and Launch Beach (startup ecosystem). LBEP also produces signature events including the Annual Long Beach Economic Forum and All Ready Here Site Selectors Conference. Business services span site selection, incentive programs, and talent pipeline development. Membership programs provide access to networking, speaking opportunities, and industry expertise through tiered participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• World Trade Center Long Beach: International trade and investment promotion agency under LBEP umbrella
• Grow Long Beach Coalition
• Launch Beach

Products and services

• LBEP Membership Program
• Site Selection and Business Attraction Services
• Incentive Program Navigation
• World Trade Center Long Beach
• Industry Profile Reports
• Annual Long Beach Economic Forum
• All Ready Here Site Selectors Conference
• Talent Pipeline and Workforce Development Services
• Advanced Air Mobility Initiative
• Launch Beach / 100 Startups Campaign
• Mayor Rex Richardson Strategic Growth Council

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 300 civic and business leaders brought together at Annual Economic Forum
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• USC Marshall School of Business Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain InstitutesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Partnership for 12th Annual Global Supply Chain Excellence Summit. Co-hosts summit with LBEP and World Trade Center Long Beach at Marriott Long Beach Downtown.
• Long Beach Harbor CommissionsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 August 2024Participated in Global Supply Chain Excellence Summit discussing port operations, clean air action plans, and supply chain resilience.
• California Governor's OfficesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2024LBEP participated in SelectUSA Investment Summit as member of California delegation led by the Governor's Office.
• World Trade Center Los AngelescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Co-host of Select LA Investment Summit 2024. Jointly promotes international investment opportunities for Southern California region with LAEDC.
• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2024Co-host of Select LA Investment Summit. LAEDC is the regional economic development organization for Los Angeles County and provides economic research and analysis.
• Port of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Historic MOU between LBEP and Port of Long Beach to relaunch World Trade Center Long Beach. Port provides strategic alignment for trade promotion and economic development. The partnership drives regional trade and investment by expanding international market access for Long Beach companies.
• City of Long BeachcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024City of Long Beach works with LBEP on economic development initiatives, providing multi-year investment commitment through the Economic Development Department. LBEP operates under the leadership and vision of Mayor Rex Richardson.
• Long Beach AirportsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Partnership with Long Beach Airport as part of World Trade Center Long Beach collaborative effort. Supports international connectivity and air mobility initiatives.
• Sunstone ManagementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Leading partner in Grow Long Beach Coalition and 100 Startups Campaign. Sunstone provides multi-year investment commitment and leads the Long Beach Venture Capital fund. CEO John Keisler serves on Mayor's transition team.
• Long Beach AcceleratorsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Coalition partner in LAUNCH BEACH 100 STARTUPS CAMPAIGN. Provides startup acceleration services and ecosystem support.
• Long Beach Center for Economic InclusionsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Coalition partner focused on ensuring inclusive economic growth and opportunities for all Long Beach residents.
• CSULB Institute for Innovation & EntrepreneurshipsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Coalition partner providing academic resources, research capabilities, and connection to California State University Long Beach for talent and innovation.
• Imprint Venture LabsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Coalition partner providing venture lab services and startup ecosystem support for the 100 Startups Campaign.
• City of Long Beach Economic Development DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2024Coalition partner providing city resources and coordination for startup ecosystem development and broader economic development initiatives.
• Wisk/BoeingsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2023LBEP facilitated Advanced Air Mobility Taskforce in collaboration with Wisk/Boeing. Partnership brought first Mayoral Delegation from Brisbane, Australia to learn about AAM integration and Long Beach's role in the initiative.
• Advanced Air Mobility OEMs (Approximately 10 companies)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBEP convened approximately 10 original equipment manufacturers for the Advanced Air Mobility Taskforce to discuss air taxi infrastructure requirements and identify gaps and solutions for Long Beach and LA region.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bay Area Council: Bay Area public-private business leadership organization focused on economic competitiveness, industry initiatives, and policy advocacy. Comparable to LBEP in California-coast, member-tiered EDO operating model.
• Greater Houston Partnership: Houston's regional chamber-economic development hybrid that drives business recruitment, international trade, and industry initiatives. Highly comparable to LBEP's structure as a non-profit public-private EDO with member tiers and global outreach.
• Greater Cleveland Partnership: Cleveland-area public-private EDO providing business attraction, retention, and industry council programming. Closely aligned with LBEP in pillar-based structure and member-supported economic development model.
• Greater Phoenix Economic Council: Public-private economic development organization for the Phoenix metro area. Highly comparable to LBEP in mission (business attraction/retention), member-driven model, and emphasis on industry verticals and global investor outreach.
• Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce: Combines chamber and economic development functions for a fast-growing US metro. Comparable to LBEP in blending membership, business attraction, talent pipeline work, and signature economic forums.
• Greater Sacramento Economic Council: Public-private EDO serving California's capital region with comparable industry cluster focus and signature economic events. Direct peer in California urban EDO landscape.
• San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation: Regional EDO serving the San Diego area with a comparable focus on priority industry sectors, international trade promotion, and member-supported programming. Similar California-coast urban geography and industry mix.

Others

• World Trade Center Association: Global umbrella organization of which the newly relaunched World Trade Center Long Beach is a member. Adjacent ecosystem participant enabling LBEP's international trade and foreign investment activity.

Broad incumbents

• Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC): Broader regional EDO for all of Los Angeles County, of which Long Beach is a part. Directly comparable in function and geography (an LBEP partner) and serves as the larger incumbent EDO LBEP operates alongside for the LA region.
• Partnership for New York City: Major US city's business-led EDO providing economic policy, business attraction, and industry research. Functionally analogous to LBEP as a senior, well-established urban EDO with member-based public-private structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/lbepartnership
• Facebookfacebook.com/LBEPartnership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lbepartnership
• Instagraminstagram.com/lbepartnership

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Long Beach Economic Partnership