October 25, 2021 —
2022-2024 Business Development Strategic Planning Focus Groups
The City is excited to build on the 2019 - 2021 strategic plan and continue to implement strategies to retain and expand existing businesses, attract new exciting businesses, and broaden our sales tax base to sustain a balanced and healthy business climate.
Your input and feedback is important to help support these efforts! By participating in a virtual stakeholder meeting, you'll be able to share your feedback and provide your unique insight. The following sessions are available:
- Property owners: Oct. 28 (4 – 5:30 PM); Nov. 1 (9 – 10:30 AM)
- Restaurant owners & managers: Oct. 27 (2 – 3:30 PM); Nov. 4 (2 – 3:30 PM)
- Office businesses: Nov. 1 (2 – 3:30 PM)
- Service businesses: Nov. 2 (3:30 – 5:00 PM)
- Retail businesses: Nov. 15 (2 – 3:30 PM)
- Realtors: Nov. 10 (2 – 3:30 PM); Nov. 17 (9 – 10: 30 AM)
- Residents: Nov. 9 (6:30 – 8:00 PM); Nov. 15 (6:30 – 8:00 PM)
Translation services or other accommodations will be available upon request. Please contact cityhp@cityhpil.com.
City staff will also attend the Ravinia Farmers Market on Wednesday, Oct. 27 (8 – 9:30 AM) to connect with residents and vendors.
Click here to register!
August 23, 2021 -- View the slides from the Business Development Strategic Plan Update. Video of the presentation and subsequent discussion is also available.
August 21, 2021 — Please join us on Monday, August 23, 5:30 PM for an update on the Business Development Strategic Plan at the virtual meeting of the Committee of the Whole. Members of the public may attend this virtual meeting on Zoom with this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83517010892 . The Committee of the Whole will immediately follow the City Council meeting, which begins at 5:30 PM. Note that the Zoom link remains the same for both meetings.
The current strategic plan, available at cityhpil.com, 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.