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📈 Business and Economic Development News |
LEGO cuts the ribbon at its brand new retail location in Skokie on December 5.
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LEGO + Skokie = A perfect fit! On Friday, LEGO celebrated the grand opening of its new retail location at Westfield Old Orchard, just in time for the holiday season.
Look inside: The Village’s Explore Skokie Instagram and Facebook highlighted the new store and its many excited customers!
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Shop Skokie this Holiday Season
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Enjoy the holiday season close to home—shop, dine and gather locally to support your favorite Skokie businesses!
Get rewarded with a gift card: Look for the "Bright Lights, Local Nights" tent card displayed in participating Downtown Skokie restaurants and shops, scan the QR code, and you’ll be entered to win one of several $50 gift cards! The drawing will take place this Saturday, December 13, at 4 p.m. outside of the Skokie Heritage Museum. You do not need to be present to win.
Bright Lights, Local Nights: Thanks to a grant from ComEd’s Powering the Holidays program, in partnership with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Downtown Skokie features even more festive holiday lighting this year.
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Click the image to view the video on Facebook.
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New Year, New Career? Apply to Join Skokie PD
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The Skokie Police Department is hiring! Entry-level police officer applications are open through Monday, December 22 at 4 p.m. Be a part of our team.
Get an inside look: Skokie Police Sergeant Giovanni De La Vega gives a quick idea of what you can expect serving as a member of the Skokie Police Department. Check out the video on the Village’s Facebook and Instagram.
Spread the word: Please share this opportunity with anyone looking to begin a career in law enforcement.
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Make Winter Tough on Rats
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As rats seek warmth and sustenance, conditions around homes and yards become more important than ever. Take a moment this season to make your property as unwelcoming to rats as possible.
Rats are drawn to three main resources: food, water and shelter. When weather turns cold, reducing access to these essentials becomes one of the most effective forms of prevention.
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MAKE YOUR PROPERTY RAT-RESISTANT
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- Remove or tightly seal all garbage and compost.
- Avoid outdoor food sources that attract rodents — including bird seed, pet food, grill residue and accessible compost piles.
- Eliminate sources of standing water, such as empty pet bowls, buckets or containers.
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Reduce shelter opportunities. Clear away clutter, woodpiles, dense brush or overgrown vegetation that can provide nesting and hiding places.
- Seal entry points into buildings. Close gaps under doors; cover vents and drains; patch holes or cracks in walls or foundations.
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Report rat activity promptly. Complete the release-of-liability form so Village inspectors can survey and treat as needed.
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Why it matters: Rats don’t hibernate — they adapt. Winter can drive them indoors or closer to buildings in search of warmth and supplies. Now is a critical time to take action.
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🍂❄️ December Leaf Collection Continues
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Public Works crews are continuing leaf collection operations this week and next week, as weather allows.
Next steps: As challenging winter conditions persist, plow operators are avoiding visible leaf piles to the extent possible. Crews are then returning to these areas to collect remaining leaves.
Questions or concerns? Submit a service request using Access Skokie or contact Public Works at 847-933-8427.
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Help First Responders: Adopt a Hydrant this Season
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Winter weather creates challenges for everyone – even firefighters!
How you can help: “Adopt” a fire hydrant this season near your home or business and keep it clear of snow. Providing a three-foot clearance on all sides of the hydrant is ideal.
Why it matters: Your efforts help ensure firefighters can quickly access water in an emergency.
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💉 Health and Human Services |
IDPH Continues to Recommend Hepatitis B Vaccination for Newborns
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Are you expecting? The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) continues to recommend the hepatitis B vaccination for all newborns. Read the statement from IDPH Director Sameer Vohra.
Why it matters: Since universal newborn vaccination began in 1991, hepatitis B infection among U.S. children dropped by 99 percent.
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Click the image to view accepted and unaccepted paint products.
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Recycling Paint Just Got Easier!
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Do you have leftover paint you won’t be able to reuse or donate? PaintCare now offers a free paint recycling program for residents and businesses in Illinois!
Accepted paint products can be dropped off at Sherwin-Williams, located at 4538 Oakton St. in Skokie, as well as other drop-off sites. Call ahead for hours and to make sure the store can accept the amount and type of paint you would like to recycle.
Unaccepted paint products should be taken to a Household Hazardous Waste Facility for proper disposal.
IYKYK: Don’t be like “old painty can Ned” – recycle your paint products!
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2025 Skokie Green Businesses recognized at the November 3, 2025 Board Meeting. (Photo by REP3.com)
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Grants Available for Skokie Green Businesses
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The Illinois Green Business Association (IGBA) has partnered with Intuit, the maker of Quickbooks, and the Green Business Engagement National Network (GBENN) to offer energy efficiency and electrification grants up to $1,000 for 30 businesses in Illinois.
Qualifying projects include LED lighting upgrades, HVAC improvements, efficient water heaters, and much more.
To qualify for the grant, Skokie businesses must:
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Be under 100 employees or less, or bring in equal to and less than $3.5 million in revenue annually
- Enroll in or have completed certification through the Skokie Green Business Program
- Complete their energy efficiency project by May 31, 2026
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Provide project completion documents
- Be willing to have their story featured after project completion
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Start here: Apply for a grant. The IGBA will also connect businesses with local utilities, where applicable, to stack funding opportunities to lower project costs.
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The Storefront (Photo by Rich Cahan)
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New! Skokie Storefront Artist Fellowship
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The Village and the Skokie Fine Arts Commission are proud to announce the launch of the Skokie Storefront Artist Fellowship, a new initiative designed to support creative work and deepen connections between artists and the Skokie community.
How it works: Each year, the fellowship will invite one artist to develop original work in a supportive, community-minded environment. The selected artist will receive a $5,000 stipend, access to The Storefront – the Village’s art and small business incubator – for presenting work, and marketing and production support. The fellowship will culminate in a public exhibition, performance, installation or equivalent final project.
Apply: Complete the online application by Tuesday, January 6.
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Our Town: Skokie Through Brownie Eyes
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Two new murals created by members of Skokie Brownie Troop 47462 are now brightening the Village Hall lobby. The project was part of earning the Girl Scout Painting Badge and began with the girls exploring murals around Skokie for inspiration and discussing places and features that make our village special to them.
Visit Village Hall this month and see what you can find in the murals!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all meetings are held at Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street.
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5127 Oakton St. | Skokie, IL 60077 US
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