Restaurant Relief Webinar, Vaccine Updates

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 7:15 p.m. on Monday, March 2.

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Restaurant Relief Webinar Thursday, Video Update

A lot has happened in Washington over the last 96 hours. The House of Representatives passed a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, the American Rescue plan, which includes $25 billion in grants through a new Restaurant Revitalization Fund. This is an effort we have been pursuing for almost 12 months.

Click here for a video update from the National Restaurant Association on the latest developments in Washington.

The Senate will take up the bill in days – they announced last night they would remove provisions raising the minimum wage and eliminating the tip credit, noting it will jeopardize pass of the larger bill. Later this week, you'll hear more from us on the Revitalization Fund and how you can help push it over the finish line in Congress.

Congress has created a number of relief programs that our industry is using, and we have been involved in the expansion of all of them. From the Paycheck Protection Program to the Employee Retention Tax Credit and soon the Restaurant Revitalization Fund – there is a lot of overlap and ways to maximize relief from each.

Join the IRA and National Restaurant Association this Thursday, March 4 at 12:00 p.m. (Central) for a in-depth webinar that will describe the interplay between these programs and what is – and isn’t – allowed as restaurant operators utilize these critical measures.

Click here to register.

Watch on Demand - Vaccination Rollout and Info For Illinois Restaurants

Thank you to everyone that attended and our panelists from the Cook County Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health, and law firm Laner Muchin for joining our recent webinar providing info on the current vaccine rollout in suburban Cook County and the city of Chicago, as well as guidance for restaurant operators on the legal considerations for vaccine policies in the workplace.

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

Click here to watch the webinar recording. Click here to download the slide presentation.

Read more about the latest updates on vaccine distribution in Chicago from Eater Chicago.

Reminder - Pay First Installment Cook County Property Taxes through May 3 with No Late Fee

Cook County property taxes are due Tuesday, March 2, but there is no late fee through Monday, May 3. Click here to watch a video announcement from Treasurer Maria Pappas.

The Cook County Board of Commissioners in November waived for two months the 1.5 percent per month late fee on all Tax Year 2020 property taxes. Taxpayers can pay the First Installment, due March 2 without a late fee through May 3, 2021. Late fees also will be waived for two months for the Second Installment, due later this year.

Property owners can visit cookcountytreasurer.com and enter their street address or Property Index Number (PIN) to:

• Search $76 million in available property tax refunds

• See if they are eligible for $46 million in missing tax exemptions

• Download a copy of their bill and pay online

Click here to read more.

Cook County Passes Ordinance to Extend Liquor Licenses, Reduce Fees in Unincorporated Areas

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has passed an ordinance introduced by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that would reduces county liquor license fees in unincorporated areas from $3,000 to $2,000, and extends current liquor licenses through June 30, 2021 due to COVID-19. The ordinance also reduces the county beer garden license fee from $750 to $300. The ordinance is now in effect.

The IRA commends President Preckwinkle and the Board of Commissioners for providing much-needed financial assistance to Cook County's hospitality industry.

Click here to read the ordinance.

Chicago Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Applications Reopen March 8

Applications will reopen on Monday, March 8 for Neighborhood Opportunity Fund small business grants of up to $250,000 each, the Chicago Department of Planning and Development announced Friday. The department will also host a series of virtual information sessions on the program during March, and applications are due Friday, April 9.

The Neighborhood Opportunity Fund finances commercial and cultural projects in neighborhoods that lack private investment, using revenue generated from downtown development.

Information and application materials are available on the program’s website.