Plans to upgrade the Los Angeles Convention Center are moving forward.

Last week the city voted to move ahead with its expansion and modernization project.

The project is expected to begin construction in the spring and be completed before the 2028 Olympic Games. It will bring in more than $165 million in visitor spending each year and create nearly 7,500 jobs during construction and 2,147 permanent positions, according to a release from the Convention Center and the Los Angeles City Tourism Department.

The project will connect the Convention Center’s South and West Exhibit Halls, adding 190,000 square feet of space to create one hall, as well as add 55,000 square feet of new meeting room space and 95,000 square feet of multipurpose space.

“Despite being in the second largest city in the United States, the LACC is currently a second-tier facility and we are losing out on business to other cities due to the constraints of the convention center. With this expansion, LACC will become a premier destination that is able to pursue larger events that bring visitors to L.A. who spend money at our local hotels, restaurants and attractions,” Doane Liu, the chief tourism officer and executive director of the city’s tourism department, said.

Kimberly Weedmark, general manager of the convention center, said the upgrades would allow it to “expand our event base with more top-tier programs and allow our current clients continued growth opportunities.” The center currently hosts roughly 200 events and 2 million visitors a year.

• • •

Midi Health and Keck Medicine of USC are collaborating on specialized care and personalized care plans.

Midi Health is a virtual care clinic focused on helping women with midlife hormonal transitions.

“We know there is a great need for expanded access to specialized perimenopause and menopause care for women, and we look forward to working with Midi Health to deliver customized care plans that address women’s unique health needs at this stage of life,” Smitha Ravipudi, chief executive of USC Care and Keck Medicine of USC ambulatory services, said in a statement.

The Insider is compiled by Interim Editor Hannah Welk. She can be reached at [email protected].