House Relief Package, Reopening Webinars, Region 1 Mitigations

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 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29.

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House Relief Package Includes Restaurant Relief

Speaker Pelosi has introduced a revised HEROES Act that includes several provisions for restaurant relief, including the $120B RESTAURANTS Act, a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding, and an expansion of the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC). The IRA commends Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats for including specific measures designed to support the nation's restaurant industry.

Depending on how negotiations progress with the White House, the House may move to pass this legislation along partisan lines. Unfortunately, due to ongoing divides on spending priorities and the Senate's focus on the Supreme Court nomination process, the House proposal is unlikely to be brought to a vote in the Senate.

If Congress is unable to reach an agreement on a long-term comprehensive recovery plan before leaving Washington, we need them to move to renew access to PPP and ERTC, two fundamental short-term tools to help thousands of restaurants that will otherwise close as outdoor dining becomes less viable.

Click here to read a summary of the revised HEROES Act.

Click here to send another note to Illinois' Congressional leaders to not leave D.C. without helping restaurants.

Tomorrow Afternoon - BACP Webinars on Updated Reopening Regulations for Restaurants and Bars

Yesterday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced that the city of Chicago will allow restaurants to operate at 40% indoor occupancy (with six feet of social distancing between tables), permit liquor sales until 1:00 a.m., and allow tavern licensees to open indoors at 25% occupancy effective at 5:00 a.m. Thursday, October 1. Click here to read the full announcement

This announcement was the result of months of persistent advocacy from the IRA in order to give restaurants and bars the opportunity to serve more people in a smart and safe way on a daily basis. Click here to review the updated guidelines for restaurants and bars.

The city of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will host multiple webinars for local businesses to review the updated opening guidelines.

Wednesday, 9/30 Webinar at 1:00 PM

Overview of the New Phase Four Guidelines for Food Service and Bars

Register for the 9/30 1:00 PM Webinar

Wednesday, 9/30 Webinar at 2:30 PM

Overview of the New Phase Four Guidelines for Event and Performance Venues

Register for the 9/30 2:30 PM Webinar

Region 1 Moves Into Mitigation - No Indoor Service at Restaurants or Bars Effective October 3

Today, Governor Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced COVID-19 resurgence mitigations will be implemented in Region 1, the northwestern most counties in Illinois, beginning Saturday, October 3. The region is seeing a 7-day rolling average test positivity rate of 8% or above for three consecutive days. Region 1 includes Boone, Carroll, DeKalb, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, Whiteside and Winnebago counties.

Mitigation measures taking effect October 3, 2020 in Region 1 include: no indoor service at restaurants or bars, all outside service must end at 11:00 p.m., reservations required for each party, and more.

IDPH will track the positivity rate in Region 1 to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigations should remain in place. If the positivity rate averages less than or equal to 6.5% for three consecutive days, then Regions 1 will return to Phase 4 mitigations under the Restore Illinois Plan. If the positivity rate averages between 6.5% and 8%, the new mitigations will remain in place and unchanged. If the positivity rate averages greater than or equal to 8% after 14 days, more stringent mitigations can be applied to further reduce spread of the virus. 

Region 4, the Metro East, remains under additional mitigation measures as well. Although the 7-day rolling average test positivity rate is less than 8%, it remains above 6.5% and has increased in recent days.

Click here to read the full announcement.

Restaurants Urge SBA to Protect PPP Rent Forgiveness

Yesterday, the National Restaurant Association submitted comments to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to protect PPP loan forgiveness. 

In late August, the SBA ruled that rent forgiveness could be restricted due to “related parties” owning part of the restaurant building/property. We have raised strong concerns with the federal agency, Congress, and the White House.

Click here to read the letter.

One Day 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, a private session with a brand expert to learn about four different Balcones whiskeys, and more.

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.

Apply Now - $10,000 Grants Available for Cook County Small Businesses

Suburban Cook County businesses with 20 or fewer employees who have seen financial losses due to the pandemic may qualify for a $10,000 grant from the Cook County COVID-19 Recovery Small Business Assistance program to help get their business back on its feet.

Click here to learn more and find out if you qualify.