Will/Kankakee Mitigations, Chicago Gourmet Announcement

The Illinois Restaurant Association continues to engage with local, state, and federal officials to help our employers and employees address concerns about COVID-19.

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 7:20 p.m. on Monday, August 24.

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New Mitigations for Restaurants and Bars in Will and Kankakee Counties, Effective Wednesday

Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced new COVID-19 mitigation efforts will be implemented in Region 7, the greater Will and Kankakee County areas, beginning Wednesday, August 26 after the region reached 8 percent positivity for three days.

Region 4, the Metro East region, which is already operating under additional mitigations, continues to report increasing COVID-19 positivity rates and will have until Wednesday, September 2 at their current mitigation level before the state must move to impose further mitigation in the region.

For Region 7, mitigation measures taking effect Wednesday, August 26 include the following:

Bars

• No indoor service

• All outside bar service closes at 11:00pm

• All bar patrons should be seated at tables outside

• No ordering, seating, or congregating at bar (bar stools should be removed)

• Tables should be 6 feet apart

• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting

• No dancing or standing indoors

• Reservations required for each party

• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Restaurants

• No indoor dining or bar service

• All outdoor dining closes at 11:00pm

• Outside dining tables should be 6 feet apart

• No standing or congregating indoors or outdoors while waiting for a table or exiting

• Reservations required for each party

• No seating of multiple parties at one table

Meetings, Social Events, Gatherings

• Limit to lesser of 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity

• No party buses

• Gaming and Casinos close at 11:00pm, are limited to 25 percent capacity, and follow mitigations for bars and restaurants, if applicable

These mitigations do not currently apply to schools, and the measures will remain in effect over a 14-day period after which time more stringent mitigation measures can be implemented if metrics do not improve.

Click here to review the mitigations for Region 7.

Click here to read the full announcement.

Additionally, beginning at 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26, all video gaming operations at all licensed video gaming locations in Region 4 and Region 7 will be limited to the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily - with no exceptions.

• The cessation of video gaming operations during the non-gaming hours will be accomplished through the Central Communications System.

• Food and beverage service in the gaming area is suspended, while curbside and carryout is permitted. 

• Masks must be worn at all times inside the video gaming area. 

• Congregating around video gaming terminals is prohibited and there is a one person per video gaming terminal limitation.

• Existing social distancing, sanitizing and other mitigation protocols and measures in approved Terminal Operator Pandemic Resumption Plans remain in effect.

Chicago Gourmet Virtual Announcement

Join the IRA for a live, virtual announcement Wednesday, August 26 at 11:00 a.m. revealing the 2020 Chicago Gourmet Lineup and the establishment of the IRA Educational Foundation Employee Relief Fund.

Click here to register and learn more.

Support Chicago Women's Restaurant Week Starting Wednesday

The Chicago JBF “Let’s Talk” Forum is proud to present Women's Restaurant Week from Wednesday, August 26 to Monday, August 31 to kick off and celebrate Women's Equality Day.

Women-owned restaurants, bakeries, food-related and beverage businesses in Chicago are offering a dine-in special (any dish or tasting menu), product sale, delivery, or pick up offer and more to to showcase their businesses to Chicago.

The IRA and Choose Chicago are proud to celebrate and support the efforts of these dynamic women in the industry.

Click here to make plans to support Women's Restaurant Week.

30 Marketing Ideas in 30 Minutes - Thursday Morning

Join the IRA and panelists from Ateema Media & Marketing and Isabelli Partners Thursday, August 27 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar with marketing and PR strategies to use right now to engage with customers.

This webinar is provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative.

**Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.**

**此网络研讨会有中文及英文两种放送版本**

Click here to register.

Pritzker Administration Launches $150 Million in Emergency Mortgage Assistance

Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) have announced the opening of the state's new Emergency Mortgage Assistance (EMA) program to assist homeowners who have seen their income decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the EMA program, IHDA will allocate grants up to $15,000 to help income-eligible homeowners who have struggled to make their mortgage payments as a result of the pandemic. Applications are now available at ema.ihda.org and IHDA expects to assist approximately 10,000 households before the end of 2020.

Homeowner Eligibility:

• Household adjusted gross income from 2019 Tax Return was at or below 120 percent of the Area Median Income;

• An adult member of the household has had a loss of income due to the COVID-19 crisis on or after March 1, 2020;

• Homeowner's mortgage was current through February 29, 2020; and

• The mortgage is past due or in forbearance.

Applications for EMA will be accepted from August 24 through September 4.

Click here to learn more and apply online.

Michelin Highlights Must-See Outside Meals

Michelin recently shared a list of must-see outdoor dining experiences, featuring Chicago restaurants such as IRA member Yugen, Alinea: AIR, and Cabra.

Click here to check out the list.