In October, UNITE-LA’s Liliana Monge participated in a fireside chat at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation’s (LAEDC) 88 Cities Summit in Hawthorne. The conversation explored how cities can leverage physical and digital infrastructure to create lasting economic and community opportunity, particularly as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Joining representatives from Cisco and the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting, Monge emphasized the importance of looking beyond infrastructure as a capital investment. While expanding connectivity is essential, access alone does not guarantee that residents and businesses can fully benefit from these investments. Connecting infrastructure development with workforce training, economic mobility and small-business growth is critical to ensuring these investments translate into meaningful opportunities for communities, reflecting UNITE-LA’s commitment to advancing inclusive economic development.