Golf Classic, Push for RRF Funding

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 6:50 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25.

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IRA Golf Classic Early Bird Tickets and Sponsorships Available

Grab your clubs and join us back on the green for the IRA's Annual Golf Classic at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club on Wednesday, August 4.

The day includes 18 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch, dinner reception and a silent auction & raffle. We are excited to be back, following guidelines and reconnecting on the links.

Click here to purchase your tickets today. The Early Bird rate ends Thursday, July 1!

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Click here to view our 2021 sponsorship packet.

Contact Clare Boyce with any questions about the event.

Guidance on Mask Regulations, Occupancy, Sample Posters from City of Chicago

Last week, the city of Chicago, Cook County, and state of Illinois each made announcements that they have aligned their mask and social distancing requirements with CDC regulations.

Please review the below updates and FAQs for restaurants, bars, and events in the city of Chicago and Cook County, which are also found on the IRA website here. If you have any questions regarding current regulations, email Matt Quinn.

Click here to watch a city of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) webinar on navigating Chicago's latest COVID-19 regulations for businesses.

Click here to visit the city of Chicago's Reopening Businesses Portal, which includes up to date capacity guidelines and regulations.

Note that the city of Chicago and Cook County remain aligned on their reopening guidance.

Click here to read the city of Chicago's FAQ on masks at businesses.

Click here to read the city of Chicago's FAQ on the Vaccine Exemption (also applicable to Cook County businesses), which allows businesses to operate with higher occupancy or full occupancy if everyone in the establishment is vaccinated.

Sign Our Petition Calling for More RRF Funding

Yesterday evening, the Small Business Administration (SBA) closed the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) application portal.

We are urging policymakers in Washington – from the White House to Capitol Hill – to replenish the RRF to maximize relief for small independent and franchise restaurant operators.

If you haven't done so already, please add your name in support of more RRF funding.

Let's Talk Womxn Supper Club & Conversation - This Friday

On Friday, May 28, Let's Talk Womxn is hosting a very special evening for diners to enjoy five course meals by Tigist Reda, Diana Davila, Laurence Noguier, Sandra Holl, and Rohini Dey. The in-person dinner is hosted at Vermilion restaurant. Alternatively, diners can pick up dinner for 2 adults from two different pick up zones.

The deadline to order is Wednesday, May 26. Click here to learn more and place an order or reservation.

Let's Talk Womxn Supper Club & Conversations is a monthly dinner and panel (last Friday of each month) brought to you by Let’s Talk Womxn Chicago and hosted by Vermilion. The next one is on Friday, June 25 by Julia Shell (The Dandy Crown, Cocktail Bar), Maya-Camille Broussard (Justice of the Pies), Geraldine Hernandez (Savory Crust, Empanadas), Mary Aregoni (Saigon, Sisters), and Rohini Dey (Vermilion, Indian-Latin).

Watch On Demand - Webinar on Staffing Help: Ideas for Finding and Hiring New Team Members

Thank you to everyone that attended and our panelists from Takito Brands, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, the Safer Foundation, and the IRA Educational Foundation for joining our recent webinar offering advice and resources for finding and bringing new employees on board.

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 recording. Click here to download the slide presentation.

Grubhub And Restaurant Strong Fund Program Giving $2 Million To Help Restaurants Reopen

Today, Grubhub and The Greg Hill Foundation's Restaurant Strong Fund announced the latest phase in their commitment to supporting restaurants: the Restaurant Stronger program, a new initiative to provide $5,000 grants to eligible independent restaurants. Restaurant Stronger grants will help restaurants fully reopen their doors, including staff hiring and training, COVID-related requirements, and inventory purchasing.

Starting May 25 through June 5, the Restaurant Strong Fund will accept grant applications from all restaurants with five or fewer locations in Chicago and other select U.S. cities. The application period will close on June 5 and grants will be fully distributed to restaurants by June 11.

Interested restaurants can learn more about the Restaurant Stronger Grant program and the full application process here.

Click here to read the full announcement.