Contributed photo | www.cityhpil.com
Contributed photo | www.cityhpil.com
- Business Development Strategic Plan Update
- Enjoy Highland Park Update
- Electricity Aggregation Program Letters
- COVID-19 Updates
- Coffee for Champions
- Business of the Week
- City Council Meeting August 23
- Openlands Meeting
- I Called the City and...
- Bitter Jester Grand Finale Performers
- Port Clinton Art Festival
Business Development
Strategic Plan Update
Please join us on Monday, August 23 for an update on the Business Development Strategic Plan. The Plan identifies priorities and strategies to market, enhance, and strengthen the vitality of the City's business districts. Over the last two years, the City has implemented a holistic approach to business retention and attraction, focusing on proactively pursuing development, redevelopment, and repositioning opportunities, building local and regional partnerships and improving the efficiency of regulatory and administrative processes to make it easier to do business in Highland Park. In response to the pandemic, the City has prioritized financial and promotional support for businesses during the pandemic, launching a grant program, hosting town halls, waiving and deferring certain fees, and embarking on a major marketing campaign.Business owners, property owners, community members, and other stakeholders will be invited to participate in the update process to share feedback and ideas to continue to advance business development in Highland Park. More details about these opportunities to participate in the plan update will be shared in eNews and social media.
Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting will be held virtually via Zoom beginning at 5:30 PM. City Hall will be open to the public for those who would prefer to view the virtual meeting from that location. View the agenda and Zoom access information at cityhpil.com/agendacenter.
Learn more about the Business Development Strategic Plan.
Enjoy Highland Park Update
Enjoy Highland Park Facebook PageThe #EnjoyHighlandPark campaign has a new home on Facebook! Give us a follow @EnjoyHighlandPark for new videos, business spotlights and more!
News and important updates regarding the City will continue to be posted to our main Facebook page (@HighlandParkIL), so be sure to follow both pages to stay in the loop.
Follow @EnjoyHighlandPark on Facebook.
Electricity Aggregation Letters
Letters regarding the City's electricity aggregation program will be arriving this week. Residential and small business customers will receive information based on their current electricity service. Participation in the program is optional, and residents or business customers who choose to participate will not pay more than the ComEd monthly published rate.View an FAQ about the program at cityhpil.com/aggregation.
Please note: MC Squared Energy Services, LLC (mc2) is the only vendor endorsed by the City of Highland Park. Any solicitor who comes to your door or calls asking you to switch to a new supplier is not associated with Highland Park's Electric Aggregation Program, mc2 or ComEd.
COVID-19 Updates
- The weekly IDPH COVID-19 report has been published.
- CDC now recommends booster shots for vaccinated individuals who have received two doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines. Individuals should schedule their booster appointments eight months after their second dose. Recommendations regarding booster shots for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine have not yet been made available.
- Back to Business grant applications for small businesses are now available.
Coffee For Champions
Thank you to everyone who stopped by Dunkin Donuts at Rt. 41 & Park Ave. West on Friday, August 20 to support the Highland Park Police Department's fundraising drive in support of the athletes of Special Olympics Illinois!Business of the Week:
Sally's Nuts
For over 15 years, Sally gifted friends and family at the holidays with her delicious homemade nuts. After hearing time after time how delicious the nuts were, she along with her daughter began packaging the nuts for sale in 2017.In 2020 they opened Sally's Nuts Snack Shop in Highland Park's Ravinia District. The Snack Shop offers simple sandwiches, salads, snacks, cheese boards, sweets, ice cream, and drinks available to grab-and-go. The famous nuts are available at Sunset Foods and other local grocery stores and online as well as at the Roger Williams Snack Shop.
Sally's Nuts - 481 Roger Williams Avenue
847.748.8947 / sallysnuts.com
City Council Meeting August 23
The next City Council meeting will be held virtually on Monday, August 23. The Committee of the Whole will begin at 5:30 PM, followed by the City Council meeting immediately after.The agenda, including information regarding public comment and the Zoom link, is available at cityhpil.com/agendacenter.
Openlands Update
On August 19, military personnel and municipal officials met to discuss efforts in support of concerns with public access to Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. Capt. Jason Williamson, Naval Station Great Lakes Commanding Officer, hosted the meeting which included Mayor Nancy Rotering, Councilmember Kim Stone, City Manager Ghida Neukirch, Lake County Emergency Management personnel, and others. Navy staff included Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Mid-Atlantic staff and Naval Station Great Lakes staff.Another meeting is scheduled next week with Openlands representatives which will lead to an action plan so the Openlands property can reopen providing safe, recreational, and open access to the public.
I Called the City And...
...I learned that dog license renewals are on their way.Dog license renewals will begin arriving soon. New this year: sign up for online renewal notifications. Simplify your 2022 dog license renewal process by registering your email address. When you link your email with your account, you'll automatically receive an email notice with instructions for online renewal next summer. You will not receive a paper renewal.
...I learned that applications for City Advisory Groups, Boards & Commissions are now open.
The Mayor and City Council are preparing to appoint interested residents to City Advisory Groups, Boards & Commissions for terms beginning January 2022. Applications for high school juniors to serve as Student Commissioners are also available. Visit cityhpil.com/boardsandcommissions for a list of the various groups, the goals, responsibilities, and what is required. For information, contact Jennifer Dotson in the City Manager's Office at 847.926.1006 or jdotson@cityhpil.com.
Bitter Jester Music Festival
Grand Finale Concert Performers
Congratulations to all the talented young artists who performed in the Bitter Jester Music Festival Friday night concerts this season! The following performers (in alphabetical order) have been selected to compete for the title of Grand Champion in the Grand Finale Concert on Sunday, September 5, beginning at 3:00 PM at Wolters Field:- Adem Dalipi Band
- Fluctuation
- Pretoria
- Quick and Painless
- Quite Frankly The Band
- Scorched Waves
- Summer Drive
- Venganza
The concert will be followed by the community fireworks display at 8:45PM!
Port Clinton Art Festival
August 28-29, 10 AM - 5 PM, downtown Highland ParkThe Port Clinton Art Festival, one of the country’s top festivals, returns to Highland Park offering fine art from more than 250 of the world’s most celebrated artists. Throughout the weekend festival-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy interactive art demos and, of course, original artwork offered by master artists from around the world. In addition to 250 Juried Artists, there will be an Emerging Artist Section! The Port Clinton Art Festival is produced by Highland Park-based company Amdur Productions.
Happening Next Week
Ravinia Farmers MarketWednesdays, 7 AM - 1 PM
Dean Ave. & Jens Jensen Park
Food Truck Thursdays
Thursdays, 4:30 PM - dusk
Jens Jensen Park
Port Clinton Art Festival
August 28 - 29, 10 AM - 5 PM
Downtown Highland Park
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up