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April 9, 2025

Unleash your inner artist at Downtown Highland Park's newest business —Freestyle Ceramics! Get your hands on clay, mold your unique pot, tuft a rug, and create vibrant, textured pieces. Whether you're a seasoned maker or trying something new, it's the perfect spot to explore your creativity and craft something special. Stop by and say hello!

1910 First Street | 773.940.1828 | freestyletufting.com

The City of Highland Park seeks proposals from experienced concessionaires to operate the retail space within the bustling Highland Park Metra Station (1700 St Johns Ave.). This is a fantastic opportunity to establish your business in a high-traffic location, serving commuters and residents alike. The initial concession agreement will be for twelve months, with a mutual option to renew for two additional years.

Interested parties are encouraged to review the full Request For Proposals (RFP) available on the City website.

If interested in this opportunity, please contact Parker Ford at pford@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1038.

North Shore School District 112 is launching a new middle school course focused on career and postsecondary exploration. The Postsecondary and Career Exploration (PaCE) course will help students develop essential skills like communication, leadership, financial literacy, time management, and more while exploring future career pathways.

The district is looking to partner with local businesses and community members to help bring real-world career connections to the classroom. If you want to share your expertise or support students as they plan for their futures, please complete the Postsecondary and Career Interest Form.

To learn more about the course and how it will benefit students, view the February 18 board of education meeting presentation from our teaching and learning department.

• Link to interest form

• Link to meeting presentation

Stay informed and engaged at the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting! On Tuesday, April 22, from 8:30 AM to 10 AM, join fellow community members for a dynamic session featuring the introduction of the 2025 Highland Park Chamber of Commerce Board, recognition of business anniversaries, and an interactive member engagement activity to shape the Chamber's priorities. Also, hear from Highland Park's City Manager Ghida Neukirch, who will present a valuable State of the City address. A light breakfast and coffee will be served.

What’s your dream team? This year’s Independence Day Parade theme celebrates all that brings us together. Whether that’s your business, organization, family or friends, sports, dance, faith, community, or neighborhood, tap into team spirit as Highland Park’s community-focused parade returns to Downtown Highland Park! Participants, including Highland Park businesses are encouraged to show their team spirit in planning their entries. Learn more and complete the application at cityhpil.com/independenceday.

📸: The talented musicians of the Great Lakes Navy Band, which made a special appearance at the City's 2024 Independence Day Parade

Mark your calendars! Food Truck Thursdays returns to the Ravinia District this summer from June 5 through September 18, 4:30 PM until dusk. Featuring over a dozen rotating food trucks and live music, Food Truck Thursdays garners a weekly attendance of hundreds of visitors, offering an excellent opportunity to showcase your business. 

Please submit your vendor application if you would like to participate as a food truck vendor. For any questions, please get in touch with Leslie Cahill of Bensidoun USA at lcahill90@gmail.com.

If you're interested in sponsoring, please contact Ilyse Strongin at Ripple Public Relations at ilyse@ripplepublicrelations.com.

Highland Park's event season is right around the corner, and now is a great time to consider getting on board as an event sponsor! If your business is interested in gaining visibility through a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Ripple Public Relations at info@ripplepublicrelations.com or 847.432.6000.

The City of Highland Park's Exterior Improvement Grant Program now offers an enhanced opportunity for commercial property owners and sales-tax-generating businesses to upgrade their storefronts. In addition to improvements to functionality and appearance, the program now includes security cameras as an eligible expense, helping businesses strengthen their security while enhancing their facade.

The key parameters of the program are as follows:

• The City’s contribution is a grant in the form of a rebate of up to 50% of the project cost to a maximum of $20,000.
• Payment shall only be made after the project is complete, paid receipts are submitted to the City Manager’s Office, and the City Council approves disbursement.  
• The maximum grant available is 50% of the eligible project costs up to $20,000 annually. Applicants may seek an additional $20,000 in Grant funding for other eligible improvements annually to a maximum of $100,000 over five years. A grant for the same improvement would not be considered within the same five-year period.
• The annual program budget is $100,000 and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on leveraging the Exterior Improvement Grant to enhance your storefront and security with the inclusion of security cameras, please contact Business Development Specialist Corey Cohn at 847.926.1046 or ccohn@cityhpil.com.

We're updating and adding business profiles to EnjoyHighlandPark.com. EnjoyHighlandPark.com is a City campaign that showcases the unique

shopping and dining, exceptional natural spaces, and vibrant arts and

entertainment offerings you can't find anywhere else. We are improving business profiles as part of a website refresh.

Help us tell your story! If you own a shopping, dining, or wellness-related

business, search for your profile on Enjoy Highland Park, and see if

Your profile needs updating.

Include the following:

• Upload 3-5 high-quality images (jpeg or png files only)
• Include your business story with 5-7 sentences highlighting your offerings
• Double-check your contact information to ensure customers can reach you

Provide the details to the City's Marketing Coordinator, Diane Larson, at dlarson@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1030, and we'll include it.

Small Business Development Center (SBDC) – SBDC has centers across the state that provide no-cost business counseling. They can assist you with a business plan, marketing, financial bookkeeping, finding grants, starting a business, growing your business, etc. For more information on the SBDC: Illinois Small Business Development Centers (SBDC) - First Stop.

There are three SBDC Centers serving Highland Park:

• Illinois SBDC at College of Lake County: 19351 W. Washington - Grayslake, IL 60030 Contact Michael Darling: 847.543.2033 illinoisSBDC@clcillinois.edu
• Illinois SBDC at Harper College: 1200 Algonquin Rd., Palatine, IL 60607 Contact: Sarah Cervantes: 847.925.6570 cs20267@harpercollege.edu
• Illinois SBDC at Oakton College: 1600 E. Golf Rd., Des Plaines, IL 60016 Contact: Maurae Gilbert McCants: 847.635.1645 mgilbert@oakton.edu

Please note that many SBDCs do assist in Spanish. If you need help finding an SBDC that assists in Spanish, please contact Diana Alfaro at diana.alfaro@illinois.gov.

April SBDC Workshops:

Strengthen Your Property with SBA Mitigation Assistance - In this virtual information session, you will learn how to protect your business from the next disaster and how SBA disaster loan options can be used to strengthen your property from SBA and FEMA experts.

Tuesday, April 22, 5 - 6 PM CDT (Virtual)

Register Here

Beyond The Logo: Building a Brand That Matters - Learn how small businesses and entrepreneurs can build authentic, memorable brands that resonate with their target audience in an age where customers do their research long before they ever talk to you.

Thursday, April 24, 12 - 1:30 PM CDT (Virtual)

Register Here

Financial Literacy for Small Business - April is Financial Literacy Month. At this in-person workshop, learn the importance of managing your finances, including improving your credit score. This matters, especially if you seek to secure business financing. This workshop will teach participants the basic financial terminology and provide an overview of the financial documents necessary for building a successful business.

Monday, April 14, 11 AM -1 PM CDT (In-person)

Sulzer Regional Library (Chicago North Side)

Register Here

For general business inquiries and assistance, contact the Business Development (BD) Team:

• BD Manager Jamie Elder at jelder@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1027
• BD Specialist Corey Cohn at ccohn@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1046
• BD Specialist Angela Shaffer at ashaffer@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1008
• Assistant City Manager Erin Jason at ejason@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1004

Opportunities for Free Business Promotion

The City encourages business owners and managers to share information regarding upcoming events, promotions, or news for possible inclusion in the City's marketing modalities, including The Weekender, Enjoy Highland Park, and social media. Please email these items to the City at businessdevelopment@cityhpil.com. The City reserves the right to edit and filter submissions.