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Action: Receive an Update on Upcoming City Produced and City Sponsored Special Events and Economic Development-Related Events
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Meeting Date: January 8, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Elizabeth Garcia, Economic Development Project Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5708
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [x] General Fund: Yes [] No [x]
Attachments: Yes [] No [x]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - GovDelivery (01/05/2025)
Department Approval: Elaine Gerety-Warner, Economic Development Director, (01/05/2025) _____________________________________________________________________
Economic Development is on track to produce events and meetings for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025-2026. These events include special events and industry cluster meetings.
Special Events
These special events also include co-sponsored events (events produced by an outside organization that has been sponsored by the City) and staff produced events (such as Vibes after Five and the Spring Arisan Marketplace).
Staff is currently producing a maximum number of events possible give the size of Economic Development staff and resources it has available. Additional events would require additional resources and/or staff, or replacement of existing events.
Industry Cluster Events
Economic Development also engages industry clusters during the beginning of each fiscal year to hear opportunities to engage as well as challenges that they are going through. This feedback will inform the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Work Plan.
Business Visitations
Economic Development seeks to meet with businesses regularly to get to know new businesses and check in with existing businesses.
Staff look forward to receiving feedback or recommendations on upcoming events, including visitations.
The schedule below is an overview of events and meetings currently scheduled from January to June:
January 2026
January 16 Business Visitation to Maruwu Seicha Matcha at 9:30am
9426 Washington Blvd
January 17 Martin Luther King Jr Celebration
January 28 Retail and Restaurant Cluster Meeting
January 29 Business Visitation to Mestizo at 1:30pm
3308 Helms Avenue
February 2026
February 4 Pan African Film Festival, Culver Theater
February 12 Brokers Breakfast Roundtable at 9am
February 17 Vibes after 5 Event at Helms Bakery (5pm to 7pm)
February 26 Automotive Cluster (Tentative)
February 28 Culver City Book Festival at the Wende Museum
March 2026
March 1 Screenland 5k
March 12 Architecture and Design Cluster Roundtable 1pm
March 12 Vibes after 5 Event at Downtown (5pm to 7pm), Tentative
April 2026
April 15-17 California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) Conference, Palm Springs
April 18 Spring Artisan Marketplace at Town Plaza
May 2026
May 2026 Small Business Month
May 3 Taste of Culver City, Culver Studios/ Amazon MGM Studios lot
May 9 Car Show, Downtown Culver City
May 12 Vibes after 5 Event (Location Tenative)
May 18-20 International Council for Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference, Las Vegas
May 23 Jazz Hands Concert Series, Location TBD
May 30 Skateside Fest, Bill Botts Park.
June 2026
June 19 Culver City Garden Club Show and Plant Sale, Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium
June 20 Juneteenth Celebration
June 26 Culver City Pride Celebration