Revitalization Grant Updates, Lawsuit Proceeds, National Public Affairs Conference

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 4:15 p.m. on Monday, April 12.

***

Latest Updates on Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant Applications, Timing

Below is a brief update on where things stand on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant (RRFG) program. 

The IRA and our partners at the National Restaurant Association have had ongoing conversations with the Small Business Administration (SBA) since the American Jobs Plan was signed into law. 

Timing

We anticipate the release of an official RRFG application, an informational SBA website, and a program guide as soon as this week or next week. Once the application is released, restaurants will have time to receive and understand the form before the application process begins.

Indicators, Draft Application

Click here to view a draft, unofficial RRFG application that has not been publicly released by the SBA. This information helped inform the Association’s FAQ, but is still under review by the SBA. We share this to provide context for restaurant operators, especially as ambitious consultants or “grant writers” offer services to navigate unforeseen grant materials. The latest, most useful information will be coming from the IRA and National Restaurant Association. 

Efficiency

The RRFG program is expected to run on a government platform that processes grant applications similar to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The government platform that operates PPP has approved nearly four million loans in 2021. While RRFG is a grant program, not a loan program, the PPP platform provides assurance that the system will be conditioned to meet the tremendous demand of restaurants.  This is a separate platform from the SBA’s Shuttered Venues Operator Grant program, which had to temporarily shut down last week due to technical problems.

More to come!

Stay tuned for more updates.

Click here to review the latest FAQ on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

IRA Testifies at House Committee on Regulations, Relief for Restaurants, Tourism

Last week, the IRA testified at a House Tourism Committee hearing on the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the tourism and hospitality industries, and the path forward to recovery.

The IRA's statehouse lobbyist Derek Blaida (pictured right) testified with other industry stakeholders about the urgent needs of the restaurant and hospitality community.

“We need to keep building on pragmatic approaches to reopening regulations, so we can plan for and attract conventions, annual events, festivals and more back to our state,” said Blaida. “We just want to be steadily moving forward with incremental changes so restaurants can keep their doors open, keep serving communities, and keep people employed,” he added.

Read more from Capitol News Illinois.

Sign Up Now for the National Public Affairs Conference - Next Week

Next week is the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference on Tuesday, April 20, and the IRA will be hosting meetings with several Congressional leaders on Wednesday, April 21. 

The conference is all virtual this year, and includes panel discussions and speakers including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Former White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, and two of the lead co-sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act - Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick.

Click here to review the agenda, which is being updated frequently. 

Click here to register today for $50 with promo code PAFCMEMBER.

Contact Matt Quinn with any questions.

FoxFire Lawsuit May Continue, Sangamon County Judge Rules

Last week, a Sangamon County judge ruled that FoxFire's legal challenge to Governor Pritzker's ban on indoor dining can continue.

FoxFire is the last of these cases opposing the indoor dining ban remaining in Sangamon County. FoxFire's attorneys have also filed an appeal directly with the Illinois Supreme Court, which has not yet weighed in. The next hearing is April 28.

If the Illinois Supreme Court agrees to consider the issue, the IRA will again present its amicus brief in support of the restaurant and the industry.

Click here to read more from The Daily Herald.

A Hire Calling Discussion with Business Leaders

You are invited to join the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership Wednesday, April 21 at 9:00 a.m. for a discussion with business leaders and successful returning employees about the movement to build a stronger economy through second chance hiring.

Click here to register for the event.

Click here to learn more about The Partnership's services for restaurant and hospitality employers that are seeking workers.