Post on Social Tomorrow - Serving You Safely

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 6:40 p.m. on Monday, September 21.

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Tomorrow Morning - Share "Serving You Safely" on Social Media

Tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m., the IRA is launching a social media awareness campaign to reinforce the extensive safety measures all restaurants have implemented and help build consumer confidence in dining indoors at Illinois' 25,000+ eating and drinking establishments.

We need your help to ensure restaurants can continue to welcome more customers back in a safe and smart way, and ultimately survive the winter months.

Post the above graphic to your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn pages at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow - Tuesday, September 22.

Posting Instructions

• Timing: Tuesday, September 22 at 11:00 a.m. (Central)

• Post the above graphic to your personal and business Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn pages and tag the Illinois Restaurant Association (@illinoisrestaurants) in your post.

• Utilize the below suggested caption and feel free to adjust to suit your tone/style.

• Tag 3 of your colleagues in the restaurant/hospitality industry in your post.

• Include the hashtag #ServingYouSafelyinIL in your post

Instagram/Facebook/LinkedIn Caption

The safety and welfare of guests and team members are restaurants' top priorities. Restaurants are, and have always been, one of the most highly-regulated segments when it comes to health and safety. We are strictly following all necessary public health guidelines - face coverings, social distancing, PPE, sanitizing, and more - in order to maintain safe and welcoming environments for our guests. We're all in this together - and we know that masks and covered faces keep open places!

Pre-pandemic, the foodservice industry was the largest private sector employer in the state. Today, 55% of 25,000+ Illinois restaurant operators say it is unlikely their restaurant will still be in business six months from now, and 63% do not expect staffing to return to pre-COVID-19 levels within the next six months. The jobs of people who work in our state’s diverse restaurant industry are at stake, and continued closures will devastate the stability of our communities.

The hospitality industry is an economic engine for the state of Illinois. Our employees want and need a place to work. Diners crave restaurant experiences, and our safety measures - which include strict mask policies for both team members and guests - allow them to do so responsibly. To this we say: We are Serving You Safely. Then. Now. Always.

#ServingYouSafelyinIL

@illinoisrestaurants @Tag2 @Tag3 @Tag3

Twitter Caption

Our industry is a leading economic engine in IL + has always been highly regulated. We are vigilant in health+safety+masking up so everyone can responsibly enjoy the dining experiences they crave. We are #ServingYouSafelyinIL - Then. Now. Always. @IlliniRestAssoc 

Advising and Grants Now Available for Cook County Small Businesses

The IRA is thrilled to be part of the Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance program. The program is two-fold, offering both business advising and grants.

All businesses located within the City of Chicago or suburban Cook County are eligible for business advising programming to help address the unique needs arising from the pandemic. Businesses located within suburban Cook County with 20 or fewer employees who saw sales reductions as a result of COVID-19 may also qualify for $10,000 recovery grants.

Visit cookcountysmallbusinessassistance.com to learn more and find out if you qualify.

Reminder - Take Three Minutes to Complete Our Illinois Operator Survey

If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes today to complete our survey Illinois restaurant and bar operators outside of the city of Chicago. If you have more than one establishment, we ask that you complete the survey for each business separately.

Your insights will help guide the IRA's advocacy efforts to provide regulatory relief and overall support for Chicago's hospitality industry.

Click here to take the survey for Illinois restaurant and bar owners/operators outside of the city of Chicago.

Updated Chicago Fall and Winter Outdoor Dining Guidance

The city of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection has issued regulatory guidance for outdoor dining and drinking in the upcoming fall and winter months.

All outdoor spaces must have a Sidewalk Café Permit, Outdoor Patio License or an Expanded Outdoor Dining Permit.

Restaurant and bar operators should note the following guidelines:

• Temporary structures that fit multiple parties must have at least 50% of the sides open to be considered outdoors

• Enclosed structures, such as plastic domes, may be used for individual parties and must have adequate ventilation to allow for air circulation

• All temporary outdoor structures covering more than 400 square feet must obtain a Department of Buildings (DOB)-issued permit

• For more information, see DOB’s Guidance on Tents for Dining.

• Temporary structures must be weighted, anchored or secured to the ground, but cannot be anchored with any method that requires screwing, cutting or drilling into the public way (i.e. on streets or sidewalks)

• Electrically powered heating devices are permitted in open or enclosed areas

• Natural gas heaters or any device fueled by propane are only permitted in open, uncovered areas

Click here to review the full guidance.

WBEZ - After A Brutal Summer, Restaurants Worry About How Much Worse The Winter Will Be

WBEZ recently covered the persistent struggles facing restaurant and bars in Chicago and across the state of Illinois. The article reviews what can be done to help at the local, state, and federal levels, including the IRA's efforts to expand indoor dining occupancy in Chicago and pass a federal Blueprint for Recovery package.

Click here to read more from WBEZ.

Sam Toia Testifies Against Chicago Head Tax

This afternoon, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia testified during a Committee on Finance hearing regarding various revenue proposals for the City of Chicago. Sam shared the IRA's opposition to an employee head tax as a potential revenue source for the city on a panel with other leaders of the business community.

A head tax - which would impose a monthly per employee tax on employers - would be extremely detrimental to workforce development and economic expansion at a time when members of Chicago's hospitality community are struggling to keep their doors open.

As budget season continues, the IRA will work to protect the hospitality industry from various tax and fee increases that would further burden Chicago's restaurants at a time when they can least afford it.

Click here to review the 2021 Budget Forecast summary.