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August 27, 2024

At the August 26, 2024 City Council meeting, Council approved a Food & Beverage Establishment Interior Improvement and Expansion Grant Program offering financial assistance to eligible existing and new restaurant and food and drink operators and property owners for the costs associated with building new, expanded, or updated sales tax-generating food and beverage sites. The new program aims to address the financial barriers faced by these businesses, promote reinvestment and new investment in the community, and enhance the business districts through the presence of strong food and beverage operators.

Program Highlights:

• Eligible full-service restaurant operators may apply for a grant to reimburse up to 50% of the eligible interior improvement costs to a maximum of $150,000 per project.
• Eligible limited-service food and beverage establishment operators may apply for a grant to reimburse up to 50% of the eligible interior improvement costs to a maximum of $100,000 per project.
• Both the business owner’s and property owner’s contributions to the project must be an amount equal to or greater than the City’s grant.

For more information, please contact Business Development Manager Carolyn Hersch at 847.926.1027 or chersch@cityhpil.com.

The City of Highland Park's Exterior Improvement Grant Program is designed to provide assistance and encourage both commercial property owners and sales-tax-generating businesses citywide to improve their storefronts’ functionality and appearance.

The key parameters of the program are as follows:

• The annual program budget is $100,000 and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The maximum grant available is 50% of the project cost, up to $20,000 per year for up to five consecutive years, or $100,000 over five years. A grant for the same improvement would not be considered within the same five-year period. For more information on the Exterior Improvement Grant Program, download the application.

For more information, please contact Business Development Specialist Corey Cohn at 847.926.1046 or ccohn@cityhpil.com. 

City administrative services will be unavailable on Monday, September 2, for the observance of Labor Day. For assistance, please contact the public safety non-emergency line at 847.432.7730. Refuse and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week.

Join the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce for September's First Wednesday Connections event on September 4, from 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM at Bluegrass Restaurant, located at 1636 Old Deerfield Road. Guest speaker and City Councilmember Andrés Tapia will speak on the topic of diversity and inclusion. Food and beverage will be available.

Light refreshments and a cash bar will be available.

HPCC Members: $15.00 per person

Non-Members: $25.00 per person

Join us for a free event discussing the current market landscape and City initiatives to support local businesses like yours. This event is your chance to:

• Learn about City programs that can benefit your company and fuel its growth.
• Network with fellow business owners and City representatives during an open forum.
• Explore Placer.ai, an innovative market intelligence and location analytics tool.

Date: Thursday, September 12

Time: 7:30 AM – 10:00 AM

Location: City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue)

Don't miss this opportunity to stay informed, network strategically, and discover resources to support your business's success!

The City of Highland Park's Resident Academy returns this fall! Open to Highland Park residents and business owners/employees alike, Resident Academy is designed to engage Highland Park community members interested in learning about the major functions of local government. The program will include weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings, 6:30 - 8:30 PM from October 1 through November 12, 2024. Business owners/employees interested in learning more about Highland Park's City government are encouraged to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.

Participants will experience firsthand what it takes to manage and operate the City. The program will include an overview of City government and an introduction to each City department and its functions, including various City facilities such as City Hall, the Public Services Building, the Police and Fire Departments, and the Water Plant.

The Resident Academy is open to individuals aged 18 and older, and participation is limited. Preference will be given to Highland Park residents and business owners. To apply, individuals must complete a registration form, which includes a background investigation. Click here to complete an online application.

For more information, please email Management Analyst Chris O'Neill at chris.oneill@cityhpil.com.

Are your employees or customers using public transit to visit your business? Would you be interested in exploring public transit as a transportation option in the future? Through August 30, 2024 the City and transportation partner agencies are conducting a comprehensive assessment of available transportation options. We want to understand how those who live, work, shop, and play in Highland Park use public transportation today or could use it in the future. By completing this survey, you'll help us improve transportation options within and around Highland Park. The survey asks 14 questions and will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

Our goal is to encourage as many community members as possible to take the survey - and your feedback, as well as that of your customers, is very important! Please consider sharing this flyer in your business. Individuals can scan to the QR code to take the survey, which is available in English, Spanish, Russian, and Polish.

Please click the link below to take the survey by August 30, 2024:

• English or Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/hptransitstudy
• Russian: https://ru.surveymonkey.com/r/FVP39MM
• Polish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N5B9WP6

Learn more about the study and existing public transport options at cityhpil.com/transitstudy. To receive project updates, please email transitstudy@cityhpil.com.

There's always something happening in Highland Park! From weekly Food Truck Thursdays and Farmers Market Wednesdays, to live music and events at Port Clinton Square and The Lot, we hope you'll join in the fun and invite all your customers to come too. Whether you participate as a vendor or stay open later than usual, we encourage you to take advantage of these happenings as an opportunity to draw extra attention to your business. Visit enjoyhighlandpark.com for a full list of events.

Did you know small businesses are not immune to cybersecurity threats? The following information will help you identify top threats small businesses might encounter and how to address them:

• Top 6 Cybersecurity Threats for Small Businesses (SCORE)
• Cybersecurity for Small Businesses (FCC)
• Strengthen Your Cybersecurity (SBA)

SCORE can help you start, grow, or successfully exit your business.

Upcoming Free Webinars Cash Flow Management & Forecasting Made Easy for Small Business - Thursday, August 29, 6:30 PM CDT

Confused About Managing Cash Flow? In this webinar you will learn the following:

• Learn basic cash flow concepts to proactively manage your business
• Understand why being profitable does NOT equal positive cash flow
• Learn how to forecast cash flow with easy-to-use tools

Reserve your spot.  

Financial Management - Friday, August 30, 11:00 AM CDT

Gain an in-depth review of financial management for the existing business or serious entrepreneur in pre-startup mode. We'll focus on the profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cash flow, as well as discuss expenses, startup costs, cash cycles, granting/receiving credit, pricing, inventory, asset acquisition, and financing options.

Reserve your spot.

Mentoring Opportunities

SCORE participants who received three or more hours of mentoring reported higher revenues and increased growth. SCORE mentors are successful business professionals, some retired, some working, from all industries and experiences. They offer in-person or virtual sessions using phone, email, or video.

To schedule an in-person or virtual session, click here and find a mentor based on your business interest.

In addition to mentoring, SCORE provides access to resource webinars. You can watch previously recorded webinars on SCORE's YouTube channel.

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

• Manager Carolyn Hersch at chersch@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1027
• Specialist Corey Cohn at ccohn@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1046
• Specialist Angela Shaffer at ashaffer@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1008

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.