No one needs to buy the printer. You send the data files to HP and they produce them and send them back rolled. I did a similar wall mural with a slide from the Smithsonian that I bought back in the seventies, had the space capsules reproduced on canvas for a wall covering about 8' high by 30' long. It was smashing and caused cars to slow down on the Edens! The money the stores put in for the displays is the same as they do for a co-op ad program - for example in a shopping center. Each display would also have a sheet that would tell about the painting and where in the Art Institute they can see the original. There is a display fee paid to the AI and thy get the publicity and help in "bringing art to the people" which is something they like. The description, history on the phone in is a great idea ad should interest the phone company as a trial. they are doing the same thing in Vienna for the historic buildings that have little red and white flags on them and a number. I dropped some copies to Chamber members - but someone has to lead and that should be the Village or EDC. Wanna bet what happens?
If the Chmaber put in x dollars, and the Village, and maybe a few private/corporate donors then the fee could be greatly reduced for the prints. The point is, there is a lot of talk about doing something but no action. Hiring more consultants to list our empty spaces and pair us with businesses looking for space is foolish - businesses will only come in where there is some chance of a customer base and walk by traffic.