The City’s new economy is based on our strengths in Trade, Tourism, Technology.

• Tourism
  Tourism has been a major part of the Long Beach’s economy for many years. We are blessed to have a hard-working Convention and Visitor Bureau and through their efforts, and the efforts of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific, we are able to attract more than five million visitors annually. With the waterfront development of Queensway Bay, future expansion of 55 acres surrounding the Queen Mary, including the Dick Clark Music Memorabilia Museum, and the new Carnival Cruise Lines terminal, the City’s tourism sector promises to be vigorous and robust for many years.

  Convention & Visitor's Bureau - http://www.golongbeach.org

  Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach - http://www.longbeachgp.com

  Queen Mary Seaport - http://www.queenmary.com

  Aquarium of the Pacific - http://www.aquariumofpacific.org

• Trade
  International trade is one of the major economic engines for the Southern California region and has supported the Long Beach economy while other industry sectors were being battered by California’s recession. We serve as the Gateway to the Pacific and no one is better positioned to take advantage of the growing Pacific Rim trade than Long Beach. Our Port is the busiest container port in North America and is responsible for over 260,000 jobs in a five-county area and future trade will generate 300,000 new regional jobs by 2010. Containerized trade at the port has grown 150% since 1990, and with shipping companies building bigger and bigger container ships, the Port’s future growth is assured.

  Port of Long Beach - http://www.polb.com

• Technology
  Technology is a rapidly expanding business sector for the City of Long Beach which has unlimited growth potential. More companies, big and small, are discovering Long Beach and taking advantage of available office space, strategic location, freeway accessibility, skilled labor and unmatched quality of life features. Industrial property, that has been scarce in recent years, will soon be available as Boeing develops 230 acres at the airport as an industrial park. The availability of this property will enable the City to attract companies who need to co-locate administrative staff and production people. Long Beach has an opportunity to become the technology center of Southern California.
  
  

  You can get a complete overview of how technology and business are converging in Long Beach by viewing the Mayor's Technology Development Initiative.

Retail
Since 1995, we have added or refurbished over two million square feet of retail venues at eight different locations throughout the City. 

Youth Programs
Mayor Beverly O’Neill, as a lifelong educator, has made youth her priority. She is spearheading efforts to implement new and exciting initiatives in the schools including the connection between a healthy body and mind utilizing Olympic ideals, after-school recreation efforts in partnership with the faith community, and the annual GTE Teen Yellow Pages, a pocket-size teen directory aimed at disseminating information to the teens in Long Beach on a wide variety of topics. But that’s not all! Mayor O’Neill has a lot in store for the youth of Long Beach. Look for more to come in the future!

This spring Long Beach began the Mayors’ OlympiKids™ for Fitness pilot program (view photos of OlympiKids™ in action). The pilot was in 5 elementary schools in Long Beach serving over 500 kids. The program was incredibly successful. 4^th graders from throughout the City learned to stretch, take their pulse, studied a variety of muscles in the body, were taught to set goals and to keep active outside of school.

OlympiKids™ began when the United States Conference of Mayors and the United States Olympic Committee joined forces to help encourage America’s kids to become more active and healthy. OlympiKids™ is a non-competitive program that allows children to explore their own fitness levels with the assistance of teachers, parents and mentors. It further promotes the notion that children should set aside time to walk, run or wheel their way towards a healthier lifestyle. Parents and educators are encouraged to take part in these activities as a way to set a positive example for kids.

In partnership with the Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine, we were fortunate enough to start this pilot program right here in Long Beach. The kids had so much fun. They received certificates, T-shirts and sports bottles for participating.

We congratulate this first round of OlympiKids™ and hope to have many more in the future.

We need volunteers to help with some of our efforts. The only requirement is your time, however much you can offer, and a love for kids! Contact us at (562) 570-6801 or via email at mayor@ci.long-beach.ca.us if you need more information.