\*From the article here:…
\*From the article here: [https://lbbusinessjournal.com/business/is-a-recession-looming-long-beach-economists-think-not-but-challenges-remain/](https://lbbusinessjournal.com/business/is-a-recession-looming-long-beach-economists-think-not-but-challenges-remain/)
Long Beach is at a transition point in its economy, experts said at the Accelerate Long Beach Economic Forum on Thursday, Nov. 2, and entrepreneurial startups will be key to making that transition successfully.
The forum was put on by the Invest Long Beach and Sunstone Management, Inc., was the presenting sponsor. Sunstone’s CEO and managing partner John Keisler provided the keynote address after Dr. Robert Kleinhenz of the Cal State Long Beach Office of Economic Research presented his economic status report and forecast.
Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson opened the forum talking about how the city’s last major economic transition took place in the early 1990s, when the Navy closed the Naval Shipyard and the military left the city. This time, the major transition will be away from an economy based on oil production.
Bo Martinez, who followed John Keisler as the city’s director of the Economic Development Department, said, “None of this is going to happen without PPP (Public-Private Partnership). We’re fortunate to have the partners we do, including Sunstone… Small business is big business in Long Beach.”
Keisler built on those comments in his speech.
Keisler also talked about how the Long Beach Accelerator provides technological assistance to entrepreneurs in its program, and how the Launch Beach: 100 Startups coalition will continue to support and promote businesses. The key, he said, will be access to capital for the business founders.
Read the 2023 CSULB Office of Economic Research presentation here: https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:us:f9a3c7dc-4170-408e-b80f-10bc6d2160f1
\*from the article here: [https://lbbusinessjournal.com/business/news/accelerate-long-beach-returns-in-person-next-week-with-a-focus-on-the-future/](https://lbbusinessjournal.com/business/news/accelerate-long-beach-returns-in-person-next-week-with-a-focus-on-the-future/)
The regional economic forum, which is hosted by the Invest Long Beach, regularly touches on different aspects of Long Beach’s economy, and this edition’s theme is “Navigating the Future.”
The forum will include economic forecasts, a special announcement from the Port of Long Beach and a discussion about advanced air mobility, among other conversations.
The advanced air mobility discussion will include National Air Transportation Association’s President and CEO Curt Castanga, Wisk Aero’s Director Ecosystem Partnerships Emilien Marchand and Joby Aviation’s Head of U.S. State and Local Policy George Kivork.
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