The following is a list of the top local business news stories that impacted the City of Long Beach in 2015:
January
• Mayor Robert Garcia presents his first State of the City address and announces several initiatives
• Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Jon Slangerup unveils “energy island” concept during his first State of the Port address
February
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) work slowdown exacerbates port congestion
• Virgin Galactic announces move to Douglas Park
• Mayor Garcia appoints members of new economic development commission
March
• Long Beach City Council passes incentive package for small businesses
April
• City council passes citywide project labor agreement
• Long Beach Technology And Innovation Commission holds its first meeting
• City pitches former redevelopment properties to developers
• Businessman Daryl Supernaw wins special election for 4th District city council seat
• Long Beach becomes one of 10 cities in the world to host inaugural e-Prix (Formula E) championship race
May
• ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association ratify labor contract agreement
• City announces members of Innovation Team (i-Team)
June
• H&M is among the first stores to open at the new Pike Outlets
• Mayor Garcia and Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal propose Queen Mary Land Development Task Force
July
• City council agrees to study U.S. customs facility for international flights at airport
• Long Beach Airport gets “negative” outlook from Fitch Ratings as JetBlue cuts flights
• California’s new sick leave law goes into effect
• Airport tenants call for strategic plan for general aviation operations
• Mayor unveils Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget
August
• City council approves new Midtown Property and Business Improvement District (PBID) in Cambodia Town
• City council approves studying minimum wage proposal
• Toyota extends title sponsorship for Grand Prix
• Plenary Edgemoor Civic Partners release new designs for civic center rebuild project
September
• City council approves contract with Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) to study minimum wage
• City council passes FY 2016 budget
• City Place Mall owner announces center redesign
October
• Long Beach Economic Development Commission is given more time to study minimum wage issue
• Nearly 800 city employees seek decertification from International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union
November
• Last Boeing C-17 Globemaster III leaves on November 29 as assembly plant officially closes
• City council approves Los Angeles-based Urban Commons as new master lessee for Queen Mary
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces agreement to move forward with East San Pedro Bay Ecosystem Restoration Study
• Mercedes-Benz USA hosts grand opening of facility at Douglas Park
• LAEDC releases results of minimum wage study; Business Journal calls study flawed
December
• Port of Long Beach experiences record-breaking cargo volumes for five consecutive months
• City council and Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approve civic center rebuild project
• City council hears report to add nine flight slots to Long Beach Airport to comply with airport noise ordinance