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Highland Park waiving some business fees amid COVID-19 pandemic, as they ‘have faced enormous challenges this year’

Highland Park officials have decided to eliminate and put off specific business fees, all in an effort to help provide financial relief to local small businesses, city officials announced.

The decision, which went into effect Nov. 23, waives 2021 business registration fees for businesses that occupy 7,000 square feet or less, as well as 2021 restaurant licenses, according to a news release from the city.

“City Council members and city staff understand the significant strain that the pandemic has placed on small business owners,” Mayor Nancy Rotering said in the release. “Highland Park’s restaurants, retailers, service and fitness businesses have faced enormous challenges this year, and we encourage all residents to shop locally.”

The city is also waiving half of 2021 liquor license fees for Highland Park restaurants and hotels through June 2021, the release states.

Each application to register a business with the city is $35, officials said. Restaurant licenses range between $100 to $200, based on the number of seats it holds. But on average, officials said it’s hard to put an exact number on how the change impacts the average business.

In total, the measures add up to about $110,000 in waived and deferred fees, with the bulk — about $69,000 — coming from the liquor license fees, officials said. Officials explained that the goal was to benefit all qualifying Highland Park businesses, regardless of industry.

Highland Park spokeswoman Amanda Civitello said the city wanted to “make it easier” for businesses in terms of the administrative work and costs associated with annual fees.

“This is an opportunity to help everybody who qualifies without worrying about the nature of their business,” Civitello said.

Business owners who have already paid their annual fees are eligible to be reimbursed. Civitello said the city will be in contact with those businesses. She said currently, about 18% of business owners have already paid their fees.

The funding to offer the waivers will come from the Financial Aid for Restaurants and Retailers grant program, according to the city.

Civitello said businesses due to be reimbursed for their now-waived fees do not need to apply for the grant program. However, other business owners seeking to receive a grant do need to put in an application. Information on the FARR program is available on the city’s website.

Civitello said there is still money in the fund.