Space to Place: Applications Now Open!

Space to Place is a City of Evanston initiative, developed in partnership with retail activation strategist Claire Seizovic, that activates vacant ground-floor commercial spaces in Evanston by giving local entrepreneurs a structured, low-risk pathway to test and grow their businesses in a real storefront. 

The idea is simple but powerful: take the storefronts that have been sitting vacant and turn them into real opportunities for Evanston business owners, with City-backed support every step of the way. Whether you're dreaming of your first brick & mortar store, ready to test a new concept, or looking to take your next big step — this program was designed for you.

What is it?
A City-supported shared marketplace in Downtown Evanston, running October through December 2026.

Who's it for?
Evanston-based small businesses focused on retail goods or food & beverage — with priority access for woman-, minority-, LGBTQ+-, and veteran-owned businesses.

What's included?
3,000 SF of shared space with an individual ~100 SF display footprint, business training, a shared point-of-sale (POS) system, City marketing support, an expert roster, and a peer community.

What's the cost?

• 10% of gross monthly sales (paid at month-end)
• $175/month participation fee
• Financial assistance available for income-qualifying participants through the City's CDBG program

What's the commitment?

• Shift coverage (minimum 5 four-hour shifts across the program)
• Incubator curriculum participation (minimum 3 sessions)
• Business registration and required licensing before October 1
• SKUs uploaded to central POS by September 18
• One hosted or co-hosted event per month.

You Might Be a Good Fit If...

• You're an Evanston-based small business selling retail goods or food & beverage items
• You're currently operating — online, at markets, from a home studio, or in shared space — and ready to test in a physical storefront
• You've been in business at least 6 months as of October 1, 2026
• You can commit to the full October–December 2026 period, including shift and incubator curriculum requirements
• You're a team player, ready to contribute to shared marketplace management and culture
• You're seeking your first brick-and-mortar space in Evanston in the next 1-2 years

Our Equity Commitment

Space to Place includes a defined priority weighting for entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities, defined for this program as woman-, minority-, LGBTQ+-, or veteran-owned businesses. Businesses at the intersection of multiple underrepresented identities (e.g., a Black woman-owned business, or a Latina LGBTQ+-owned business) receive additional consideration in the selection process.

Financial Assistance

• City of Evanston CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding is available to support income-qualifying participants: federal funding specifically directed toward lower-income individuals and historically underrepresented entrepreneurs
• Income eligibility criteria and required documentation will be provided to applicants who indicate a need

Supporting materials: Business Plan Template EN/ES | Financial Workbook EN/ES

Questions?

Contact the Space to Place team at spacetoplace.evanston@gmail.com
Claire Seizovic, Retail Activation Strategist
Katie Boden, City of Evanston Economic Development Coordinator