Friday, December 16, 2022 | View in browser
 Still time to Shop Evanston for the Holidays!
Whether you're looking for handcrafted jewelry, cozy clothing items, a new favorite book, or the perfect bottle of wine, Evanston's unique local businesses have you covered! Shop local this holiday season.
No need to worry about packages arriving late – pick up your holiday gifts today right here in Evanston and support your community in the process.
The best children's books of 2022: From pictures to poetry, the Evanston Public Library knows the perfect books for the children in your life. Check out their list of 101 Great Books for Kids.
 Holiday Celebrations Continue!
Light the menorah: Celebrate Hanukkah in Fountain Square this Mon., Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. with live music, treats, and more.
Community Sharing: Monday, Dec. 26 marks the first day of Kwanzaa and the last day of Hanukkah – a perfect opportunity for an uplifting and inspiring community and cultural celebration. Stop by Fountain Square at 11 a.m. for a "Community Sharing" event, and head to the Robert Crown Community Center from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for the Kwanzaa Festival.
 Last Chance to Shop Evanston Made!
The Evanston Made Holiday Market is coming to a close. Stop by and purchase your unique holiday gift for that special someone this weekend through Tues., Dec. 20. Go shop today and see all of the participating vendors!
 Vote on your favorite window!
The annual city-wide Holiday Window Decorating Contest is back. Vote on your favorite window by December 23 when the winners will be announced. This year, the theme is Decorate Sustainably to encourage businesses to re-use old materials, upcycle materials into new designs and get creative in a sustainable way.
 The Journey to Pink and Tan
The owners of Pink and Tan, located at 604 Dempster St., overcame huge Covid challenges when leaving Shanghai to journey back to Evanston. “Through all this turmoil, a couple of things stand in my memory,” said Sheldon. “The four of us lived with hardly any possessions for 14 months AND we went to the beach nearly every day!" Read more about their journey.
 The Clean Team Making a Difference!
The Streetplus Evanston Clean Team had a busy first two weeks in action! From November 14 through 30, team members:
- Removed graffiti from 330 locations
- Collected 408 trash bags and 10,200 pounds of trash
- Performed a detailed cleaning of 260 street fixtures and 221 trash cans
Reminder: Help reduce overflowing trash cans in our business districts. Garbage bags generated from households, businesses and offices belong in designated refuse containers and dumpsters located in your alley, not in business district sidewalk cans. Please report any issues to Evanston 311.
 Planning a special event in 2023?
Be sure to secure your special event permit! Applications are due January 31. All outdoor events requested on City property, such as a street, park, or sidewalk, or events deemed to significantly impact the City are considered special events.
 Minimum Wage Change for Tipped Workers
Starting January 1, 2023, the Cook County minimum wage for tipped workers will go up $7.80 per hour. This is in alignment with the Illinois State minimum wage. The minimum wage for non-tipped workers will remain at $13.35. Learn more about the Minimum Wage Ordinance (MWO).
 The next round of Manufacturing Reinvented
Businesses can apply for this round of funding for Manufacturing Reinvented, a $5 Million Grant Program for suburban manufacturers. The company plans to approve 300 businesses between $5,000 to $ 25,000 in reimbursable expenses. Apply by December 31 and start 2023 strong! Learn more about the program today!
 Submit your Events for our Economic Development Newsletter!
Are you a registered Evanston based business with an upcoming event? We'd like to help you promote it! We can add your event to our weekly newsletter. See the eligibility requirements for events below:
- Your business must be located in Evanston and registered. If you're not registered, complete your business registration application
- Submission must be an event. We don't promote sales or individual business advertisement
- Submission must include a flyer and website where interested residents can get more information
Send your submission to economicdevelopment@cityofevanston.org with "For Newsletter" in the subject and we will reach out if we have any questions about your event.
Do business with the City of Evanston
Interested in doing business with the City of Evanston? Visit our bids and proposals page to see current Bids, Request for Proposals (RFP) and Request for Qualifications (RFQ).
Contact the project Purchasing Specialist via email with questions pertaining to the project of interest. Specialist email contact information can be found in the Bid "Questions" or RFP/Q "Questions Regarding RFP/Q" section of the related document; or contact purchasing@cityofevanston.org.
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