LA28 announced Tuesday a new licensing program, Made for Two-Eight, that will let small Los Angeles County businesses become official licensees and put the LA28 emblem on products they make locally.
The announcement came at Homeboy Industries, which has become an official licensee to produce apparel and accessories.
Licensees will be able to use LA28 intellectual property on their merchandise and sell approved products through various platforms, including their own. License terms will begin around one year before the Olympic Games and run through the end of the Paralympic Games in August 2028. Each license is category-specific, time-bound and subject to other customary terms and conditions.
"Our goal from day one has been to ensure the economic benefits of the Games reach our local neighborhoods," said Reynold Hoover, LA28 chief executive officer.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the Games are projected to generate up to $40 billion in economic activity, "and we're making sure our businesses, right here in the city, are the first to benefit from that opportunity."
The Rev. Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, said the agreement "will give our folks a global stage to showcase their talents."
Licenses will be awarded through a competitive process. Products must be made at a physical facility in Los Angeles County, materials should be sourced from the county, and businesses must qualify as small businesses under U.S. Small Business Administration size standards. Selection will give priority to facilities and materials within the city of Los Angeles.
During the first month, only applications from businesses with facilities in the city of Los Angeles will be reviewed. Applications will then open to other eligible businesses across the county.
"Fans will find products at our retail locations that were designed, sourced and made in Los Angeles, and local makers will gain a new channel to reach customers from around the world," said Peter Zeytoonjian, LA28 senior vice president of consumer products.
Applications open Oct. 30 at RAMPLA.org and close in February 2027, with awardees announced in July 2027.
LA28 encourages interested businesses to register now at RAMPLA.org and subscribe to its Sports and Entertainment Announcements and Opportunities notification. Businesses can also contact their local chamber of commerce for program updates.
Edited by SMDP Staff