De-escalation Strategies, Business Interruption Grants, IRA Lobbying for Occupancy/Hours
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
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 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday, September 23. *** Sam Toia on Fox32 - Restaurants Need Expanded Indoor Occupancy and Extended Hours to Survive 
IRA President & CEO Sam Toia recently joined Fox32 to discuss the ongoing challenges of Chicago's restaurants and bars that could lead to more permanent closures. Sam pointed to the IRA's efforts to increase indoor dining occupancy to 50% and extend hours of operation as measures that would help restaurants survive the winter months. Click here to watch the segment. Free ServSafe Conflict De-escalation Training Video 
As restaurants look to enforce COVID-19 requirements, difficult situations may arise with guests adhering to the guidelines. ServSafe Conflict De-escalation: COVID-19 is free training video that includes the following topics: Upon completing of the training video, registrants will receive a Record of Training with their name on it. Conflict De-escalation is the latest free training COVID-19 Precaution video from the National Restaurant Association, joining ServSafe Reopening Guidance, ServSafe Takeout, and ServSafe Delivery. Click here to register to watch all free training videos. State of Illinois, City of Chicago in State of Readiness Responding to Breonna Taylor Decision Businesses in the city of Chicago and across Illinois should be aware of the potential for protests in response to the decision issued in the Breonna Taylor case earlier today. Governor Pritzker has put the Illinois National Guard into a “state of readiness” in the event of any unrest in Chicago or in other parts of the state. The city of Chicago is also preparing for all potential contingencies. The IRA was briefed by the Mayor's office and CPD this evening. At this time, there is no planned curfew in the city of Chicago, no closures of bridges, the CTA, or the perimeter of the Central Business District. Additional city resources have been deployed in addition to an increased police presence in the CBD and in neighborhood business corridors. Stay alert and updated to any changes with emergency notifications from CHIBIZ alerts by texting “CHIBIZ” to 67283 or visiting chicago.gov/chibizalerts. The IRA will share any additional updates from local and state authorities as they become available. Click here to read more from NBC5. Keep Spreading the Word on Social - "Serving You Safely" 
Thank you to the hundreds of restaurant operators that have shared the IRA's "Serving You Safely" campaign message on social media so far. The campaign is a part of the IRA's ongoing efforts to to ensure restaurants can continue to welcome more customers back in a safe and smart way, and ultimately survive the winter months. If you haven't already done so, post the above graphic to your Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and/or LinkedIn pages. Click here for posting instructions and suggested captions. $220 Million in Business Interruption Grants Now Available Last week, Governor Pritzker announced the latest in a series of grants made available for small businesses in Illinois suffering losses as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Applications for the second round of the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program are now available, and will offer $220 million in funds for small businesses hit hardest by the ongoing pandemic. The $220 million second round of BIG aims to provide relief for all types of small businesses, but with a particular focus on businesses downstate, in disproportionately impacted areas (DIAs), and for heavily impacted industry and regions – representing businesses that have been unable to reopen or operating at a severely diminished capacity since the spring. Click here to learn more. One Week Left to Bid on Chicago Gourmet Silent Auction Packages 
Bring the Chicago Gourmet experience into your home while benefiting the hospitality industry with our premier online auction. Prize packages include an intimate dinner with wine and cocktail pairings at Virtue Restaurant, a six-week Wine Professional Course at Kendall College @ NLU, virtual wine tastings with Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado, and signed jerseys from Lucas Giolito and Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox. One hundred percent of proceeds from our online auction benefit the IRA Educational Foundation, dedicated to building and promoting the health and prosperity of the restaurant industry by investing in Illinois' youth and workforce. Bid early and bid often for this important cause! The auction ends Wednesday, September 30 at 11:59 p.m. (Central). Click here to bid today. New Chicago Travel Warnings - Wisconsin Added to Updated State Quarantine List Yesterday, Chicago public health officials added Wisconsin, Montana, Idaho, Minnesota, and Puerto Rico to the city's COVID-19 travel quarantine order. Click here to review the latest emergency travel order. Eli's Cheesecake Virtual Happy Hour Supporting IRAEF Employee Relief Fund On Friday, September 25 at 4:00 p.m., peek inside the Eli's Cheesecake bakery to see them make their magnificent 40th Anniversary Ruby Jubilee Cheesecake. Then, "meet" Eli's executive pastry chef, Laurel Boger, who will be creating plating ideas including turning this elegant dessert into a festive Cheesecake Dipper (a chocolate enrobed frozen slice of cheesecake on a stick). The demo is free. Order your own 9" Ruby Jubilee Cheesecake, serves 14, which can be delivered right to your door prior to the demo or the following week. The cost of the cheesecake is $58.95, plus delivery. $15 of your purchase will benefit the IRAEF Restaurant Employee Relief Fund. Click here to order now.
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