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April 5, 2023

Fonseca Martial Arts was created by John Fonseca and offers the highest quality of martial arts instruction in a positive, friendly, family atmosphere. The curriculum and approach are designed to work with people of all levels of skill and fitness. The Downtown Highland Park Dojo is the sixth Fonseca Martial Arts location.

482 Central Avenue / 847.866.0200 / Fonseca Martial Arts

For more than 30 years, Goodies Etc. has been satisfying sweet tooth cravings with mouthwatering chocolates and tasty confections. Goodies Etc. offers gourmet treats of the finest quality and has a top-notch reputation for their elegant personal and corporate gift baskets. Stop in and treat yourself or order something special for a friend. You deserve a sugar fix.

652 Central Avenue / 847.432.0652 / Goodies Etc.

On Monday, April 3, Public Works began removing the Central Business District’s existing refuse containers and bike racks. On Tuesday, April 4, they began replacing the containers and bike racks. The plan is not to remove the containers and bike racks all at once but just enough to stay ahead of the installation crew. The work started on Second Street. It is expected to take 3-4 weeks to complete. Parking spaces opposite the containers to be installed will be coned off during installation. 

The City of Highland Park has been made aware of an email scam targeting Highland Park business owners. Scammers are pretending to represent a fictitious “Best of Highland Park Awards” and “Highland Park Business Hall of Fame,” claiming that the business has been selected as a winner and offering the opportunity to purchase an award. This is false. The email may have the subject line “Highland Park Business Hall of Fame.” Because of the title of this fake program, it may appear to recipients that this is an initiative of the City of Highland Park. The City of Highland Park is not affiliated with this scam. Although the City sponsors awards programs, it does not charge businesses for their recognition with either the Beautification or Business Recognition Awards. The City of Highland Park will not email, call, or text you to purchase an award.

If you believe you have been the victim of a scam, please get in touch with the City of Highland Park public safety non-emergency line at 847.432.7730 for assistance. Scams may also be reported to the Illinois Attorney General at https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/File-A-Complaint.

The Sponsor-A-Planter Program offers residents and businesses the opportunity to sponsor an available municipal planter during the summer and fall seasons. An annual fee covers planting, maintenance, and a 5” x 7” commemorative placard in the planter. The placard may recognize the sponsor or commemorate an individual or family. Planters are located in the Central Business District and the Ravinia District and are maintained from May to November.

More information is available at cityhpil.com. Please contact the Office of Business Development at 847.926.1046 with questions. 

Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced $175 million in available grant funding through the Back to Business (B2B) program for restaurants, hotels, and creative arts businesses. Applications will be accepted from April 5 through May 10 and take approximately two hours to complete. Awards are expected to be made several weeks after the deadline date. All eligible applicants will receive a grant as long as the business meets eligibility requirements and submits proper documentation and attestations. Program information available here. Upcoming webinars are listed below.

Statewide DCEO English-Language Webinars:

• Thursday, April 6, 2023, 2:00 - 3:00 PM

For more information and questions, please contact:

Mitch Bienvenue, Director, Illinois Small Business Development & International Trade Center College of Lake County

847.543.2750 / mbienvenue@clcillinois.edu

Agnes Masnik, Northeast Regional Manager, Office of Regional Economic Development Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity

University Center of Lake County

312.882.6840 / Agnes.Masnik@illinois.gov / www.illinois.gov/dceo

The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that Illinois will receive up to $354.6 million to administer programs as part of the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). The expanded program offering through SSBCI will enable Illinois to support small businesses across the state - helping them attract more capital investment and expand or launch business operations, while supporting key sectors. All of the new programs will launch in the coming months.

• Advantage Illinois (AI) Loan Guarantee Program (New Program)

Advantage Illinois' new Loan Guarantee Program will support business applicants who are having difficulty gaining access to capital by using funds to guarantee a percentage of loans provided by partner lenders.

• IN-VENT Venture Capital Program (VCP) (New Program)

Innovation Venture Fund (IN-VENT) will operate as a direct equity program with a focus on investing in businesses in key industries such as agriculture, ag tech, information technology, life sciences, manufacturing, quantum, and more.

• Climate Bank Finance Loan Participation Program (New Program)

This new program will be overseen by DCEO and administered by the Illinois Finance Authority (IFA), which will partner with local lenders to issue the loans. Climate Bank funds will be available to small businesses in the clean energy sector.

To receive program updates, please fill out the following form.

The City of Highland Park’s Small Business Facade Improvement Program (SBFIP) provides assistance and incentive to property owners and local businesses to improve the appearance and functionality of their property and place of business. The SBFIP is available for small business operators and commercial property owners citywide. Eligible owners of commercial/retail buildings and small business owners operating within a commercial/retail building may apply for a City grant that may reimburse up to 50% of the approved eligible improvement(s) to a maximum of $5,000 per project. A small business is defined as having a net worth of less than two million dollars, and as showing less than an average of two hundred thousand dollars in profit per year for two years after taxes. The following are a few examples of eligible expenses:  

• Installing new awnings/signage
• Replacing, repainting, or restoring exterior doors
• Repairing or upgrading exterior lighting
• Painting building exterior 

SCORE offers in-person or virtual sessions using phone, email, or video

All sessions are free and confidential. SCORE mentors are successful business professionals, some retired, some working, from all industries and experiences.

SCORE recently added a new YouTube channel where all previously recorded webinars can be accessed.

To schedule an in-person or virtual session, visit score.org/northchicago and register to “Find a Mentor”. You will be asked to provide the nature of your business interest. Please include whether you prefer in-person or virtual mentoring (phone, email, video) and note the Highland Park Public Library even if you prefer a virtual session.

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 send these items to the City via email to: businessdevelopment@cityhpil.com.

For general business inquiries and assistance, contact Business Development Manager Carolyn Hersch at chersch@cityhpil.com or 847.926.1027.

Questions regarding enjoyhighlandpark.com should be addressed to Amanda Bennett, Communications Manager, at abennett@cityhpil.com.

This newsletter is produced by the City of Highland Park's Office of Business Development. If you have information you would like to include in this weekly mailing, please submit information, photos, and news to businessdevelopment@cityhpil.com. The City reserves the right to edit and/or filter submissions.