See You Saturday

DTOP hosted its first See You Saturday event last Saturday with great success! The community came out and enjoyed live music, activities, outdoor seating, restaurants, kids’ music, balloon twister, drinks & more. We will be hosting three more Saturday's: DATES: SEPT 25, OCT 2 & 9 TIME: 10AM – 8PM LOCATION: MARION STREET BETWEEN LAKE STREET & NORTH BLVD Click HERE for all the details Merchants are welcome to bring merchandise out in front of their business!

State and Local Recovery Funding Business & Non-Profit COVID-19 Recovery Grant Program The Village of Oak Park has created a Business and 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Coronavirus Recovery Grant Program funded by $550,000 in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. The program is intended to help Oak Park businesses with less than $3,000,000 in annual average gross business receipts and Oak Park-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 emergency. Grants are not available for payroll expenses or to franchise chains with five or more locations. Applications will be accepted beginning Sept. 27, 2021. Back to Business Grant Program As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s overall economic recovery strategy, the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program aims to deploy small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The B2B grant program builds on the success of last year's Business Interruption Grant (BIG) program – an equity focused business relief program, which directed $290 million to 9,000 businesses in 98 communities across Illinois. B2B is a key component of the Governor’s $1.5 billion economic recovery plan, aimed toward a swift and equitable deployment of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds that have been designated for Illinois to assist in recovery from the COVID pandemic If you have any questions on either of these programs please feel free to reach out to me and I will guide you to the person that can help you.

Outdoor Patio Cafes A reminder, outdoor patio cafes have to be removed by October 31st. You may request an extension if your café is not on or blocking any parking spaces. Contact me and I will forward your request to the proper person at the Village. [email protected]

Downtown Oak Park Job Listing A reminder that DTOP has a job listing board on our website. Click HERE to upload or update your available positions. We also have a list of local area focused job message board resources HERE. -- We're continuing to push the Job Listings resource page out to the community! Mom's Mail Eblasts Social Media Wednesday Journal ad Wednesday Journal community papers If you have any success stories please share with staff so we can share with other merchants!

Fall Decor! Soft white café lights were installed up and down Marion and Westgate to add the ambience of the See You Saturday series. Fall corn stalks will be installed on all lamp posts first week of October and stay up early November.

New Businesses in DTOP OPEN La Borra Café - 1100 Lake Street Einnim - 1020 Lake Street YogaSix - 1006 Lake Street Stride - 1004 Lake Street European Wax Center - 1117 Lake Street COMING SOON My Salon Suite  - 114 N Marion Street Kyuramen - 112 N Marion Street Tacos El Tio - 1115 Lake Street EXPANDING The Little Gem Restaurant - 189 N Marion Street

Employee Parking Programs

The Village of Oak Park Employee Discount Parking Program: This program offers Oak Park businesses an opportunity to purchase monthly parking cards at discounted rates for employees who meet earnings guidelines. The prepaid discount parking card is a debit-type paper card with a magnetic information strip. To be eligible, employees must earn wages of $14 per hour or less. Full-time employees may purchase 200 hours of parking per month for $41 and part-time employees may purchase 80 hours of parking per month for $17. These fees reflect a discounted rate of 20 cents per hour. Discount Employee Parking cards are sold for the following lots: • Holley Court Garage, 1125 Ontario St. – 80 spaces on the roof level only Contact [email protected] or visit www.oak-park.us/parking The Emerson Garage Employee Parking Discount: The Emerson Garage at Westgate and Maple offers local businesses employee discounted parking stickers; $4.00 for up to 11 hours. Contact Lawrence Williams at [email protected]

Shopper's Reward Program Downtown Oak Park's Shoppers Reward Program begins November 1st! We extended the redemption side of the program until March 15th Envelopes will be distributed at the end of October. Participants can earn up to three booklets Gift card receipts will be accepted A social media campaign is being created using merchant videos to promote the program this year -- Watch for them starting in November! Staff will be sending out an email in the next week with information on this program, as well as all of our holiday events and promotions.