Register for RRF Application Friday Morning, Applications Live Monday, May 3

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 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 27.

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Register for RRF Applications Friday Morning, Applications Accepted Starting Monday

This morning, the SBA officially announced new details on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and the timeline for applications. Registrations for the application will begin this Friday, April 30, at 8:00 a.m. (Central) and applications will officially open on Monday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. (Central).

We encourage all operators to apply as soon as the application is live, as there will likely not be enough funds to fulfill every application with the current round of funding.

Click here to review the FAQ sheet from the National Restaurant Association.

Click here to watch the recording of the IRA's recent webinar on RRF with Bo Steiner, District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration, Illinois District Office.

In preparation, SBA recommends that operators familiarize themselves with the application process in advance to ensure a smooth and efficient application experience, specifically by:

• Registering for an account in advance at restaurants.sba.gov starting Friday, April 30 at 8:00 a.m. (Central).

• Reviewing the official guidance, including program guide, frequently asked questions, and application sample.

• Preparing the required documentation.

• Working with a point-of-sale vendor or visiting restaurants.sba.gov to submit an application when the application portal opens on Monday, May 3 at 11:00 a.m. (Central) (Note: If an applicant is working with a point-of-sale vendor, they do not need to register beforehand on the site.)

SBA is hosting two national webinars - today at 1:30 p.m. (Central) and tomorrow, Wednesday, April 28 at 1:30 p.m. (Central) - on RRF that will demonstrate how to submit an application through the portal.

Click here to register for today's webinar. Click here to register for the Wednesday webinar. 

Now Open to the Public - Bridgeport Vaccination Event Tomorrow

The IRA is hosting our next vaccination event on Wednesday, April 28 from 9:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Bridgeport Art Center (1200 W. 35th Street) in Chicago. This event is now open to the public, not only foodservice workers in the city of Chicago.

Sign up to receive the free Johnson & Johnson (single-dose) COVID-19 tomorrow.

The IRA encourages all operators and employees to take advantage of this opportunity to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please share the information with your team members and colleagues in the industry.

Things to Know

• The Johnson & Johnson (one dose) vaccine will be administered at the Wednesday, April 28 event at Bridgeport Art Center.

• Vaccinations are available for those who are 18+ years of age.

• Vaccines will be administered by appointment only.

• Vaccinations are free and available to any worker regardless of immigration status.

Click here to review the city of Chicago Department of Public Health's (CDPH) FAQ on COVID-19 vaccines.

Click here to find vaccination locations throughout the state of Illinois.