Wednesday, November 22, 2023   |   View in browser

Happy Thanksgiving, Evanston

The City of Evanston's Economic Development Team would like to wish everyone a happy and delicious Thanksgiving! Enjoy the time you spend with your family and support our local businesses. 

Small Business Saturday is here

Get in the gift-giving spirit by supporting local businesses this holiday season! Pick out all of your holiday gifts on Shop Small Saturday, Nov. 25. Check out promotions happening in Downtown Evanston, the Main-Dempster Mile and Central Street. 

Make sure to check out shopevanstonfortheholidays.com for a list of holiday events and news happening around town!

Holiday Parking: Free for 2023!

The City is making local holiday shopping easier this year by offering a “Holiday Parking: Free for 2023” promotion. Community members and visitors to Evanston’s business districts will enjoy up to two hours of free parking daily from November 22, 2023, through January 1, 2024.  

How to get free parking: Users can simply enter the code "Holiday2023" while using the Park Evanston app to access two hours of free street parking. This offer is valid for app users once per day per account. 

Gov. Pritzker Announces $25 Million Available

Governor Pritzker announced a new grant to support businesses that persevered through the Covid-19 Pandemic. “Small business owners contribute to our thriving state economy every day, often taking on enormous risk to do so—but no business owner could have been prepared for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These grants will support those who faced down unprecedented circumstances and met them with innovation and entrepreneurial spirit who may have been left behind in previous aid efforts.” Learn more and apply!

Mayors Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive

To ensure every Evanston family can celebrate this holiday season, Mayor Biss encourages all community members to participate in the annual Mayor's Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive. Through Friday, December 8, the City is collecting new, unwrapped toys in addition to staple food items for holiday meals. For the list of drop off points and more details, read more.

Businesses in the News

Evanston Leadership Welcomes UL

The City is excited to have UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement in the downtown. According to Mayor Daniel Biss, “It’s transformational for the economy of downtown Evanston as we continue to understand what a successful post-COVID equilibrium in this community looks like.” Read more

Upcoming Local Events

Evanston Rebuilding Exchange, located at 1245 Hartrey Avenue, invites you all out to the Holiday Scraptacular on Sat., Nov 25 at 11 a.m. Come celebrate the holidays by making something with Rebuilding Exchange.

Come out and meet the Heartwood Community on December 2 beginning at 12 p.m. Enjoy an afternoon of healing as you meet their practitioners and teachers at the Holiday Open House!

City Initiatives

Liquor Control Review Board to Meet on December 8

The Evanston Liquor Control Review Board will meet on Friday, December 8, at 1 p.m.  An agenda and staff report will be posted closer to the meeting date on the Liquor Control Review Board website.

Please plan to attend the meeting live at the Morton Civic Center at 2100 Ridge Ave, or via Zoom: 

City Grants Grace Period for Fair Workweek Ordinance

Evanston has extended a grace period for employers to adjust to the requirements of the newly enacted Fair Workweek Ordinance (24-O-23). This ordinance, designed to enhance employee well-being and work-life balance, will be enforced beginning January 1, 2024. Read the press release.

Plastic Bag Ban Ordinance Update

In an effort to reduce plastic waste and encourage behavioral change throughout the city, the Evanston City Council voted on May 22 to approve a complete ban on plastic bags in all city businesses and impose a $0.10 tax on remaining bag types at large retail stores. The “Retail Single Use Bag Tax”, also known as Ordinance 1-O-23, went into effect on August 1, 2023 and enforcement will begin January 1, 2024. For more information, visit cityofevanston.org/plasticbagban.

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
• Submissions must be events. We don't promote sales or individual business advertisement
• Submissions must include a flyer and website where interested residents can get more information

Send your submissions to economicdevelopment@cityofevanston.org with "For Newsletter" in the subject and we will reach out if we have any questions.

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 for 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.