Fighting for Indoor Dining, PPP Reopens, Stay at Home Advisory Extended

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

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 6:00 p.m. on Monday, January 11.

***

IRA Fights for Restoring Indoor Dining

IRA President & CEO Sam Toia recently spoke with Illinois Radio Network about the impacts of mitigations on restaurants across the state, and the IRA's efforts to restore indoor dining.

“No restaurant owner-operator ever could put his or her restaurant business plan together with 0% capacity and/or 25% capacity, or for that matter 50%,” said Toia. “We need the governor and our elected state leaders to get us to the table, and figure out a pragmatic approach for some limited indoor dining."

The National Restaurant Association conservatively predicts the state will lose 20% or 5,000 restaurants before the COVID-19 crisis is over. Eating and drinking places in Illinois lost 31,000 jobs in November, the most of any state in the country - and three times as many as the next closest state.

Click here to read the article.

City of Chicago Extends Stay at Home Advisory

Yesterday, Mayor Lori Lightfoot reissued the city of Chicago's existing Stay at Home Advisory through January 22.

Outdoor service at restaurants and bars may continue. All customers eating or drinking on premises must be seated at outdoor tables spaced at least six feet apart, including tables within eight feet of a wall that is at least 50% open. Party size cannot exceed six people per table. 

Click here to read the reissued Stay at Home Advisory.

Click here to read more from NBC 5.

PPP Opened Today for First Draw PPP Loan Applications

Starting today, community financial institutions (Community Financial Development Institutions, Minority Depository Institutions, Community Development Corporations or Microlenders) can submit First Draw PPP loan applications to the SBA. On Wednesday, they will be able to submit Second Draw PPP loan applications. Just a few days following, the PPP will re-open to all participating PPP lenders for First and Second Draw PPP loans.

Last week, the Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, has recently released guidance for the second round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The National Restaurant Association has distilled it into a seven-page “PPP User Manual”.

Click here to review the guidance for restaurants.

This Thursday - Webinar on Utilizing New Options for Generating Revenue

Join the IRA and panelists from Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen,16” on Center, and US Foods on Thursday, January 14 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar providing operators with ideas for new or different options for generating revenue at your business now.

Click here to register.

The Food XP Highlights IRAEF Scholarships

Thank you to The Food XP for highlighting the IRA Educational Foundation's scholarship fund as the #4 best culinary scholarship fund in the U.S.

To date, the IRAEF has awarded more than $3 million in scholarships to future leaders of the hospitality industry.

Click here to read more.