ENTREE Act, Getting Back to Work, Federal Tax Credits

ENTREE Act to Replenish RRF Introduced

On Wednesday, House Small Business Committee Ranking Republican Blaine Luetkemeyer introduced legislation to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) with $60B in funding.

Appropriately titled the ENTRÉE Act, this bill generally reflects the GOP’s preference for how to replenish the RRF, as the funds would come from rescinding money from unspent Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) and other state and local funds within President Biden's American Rescue Plan. Democrats are not expected to support this bill, and instead will be pushing for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund Replenishment Act, H.R. 3807, that was previously introduced.

The legislation represents a good step in the right direction to build more bipartisan support toward replenishing RRF.

Read more from Restaurant Dive.

If you have not done so already, click here to send a message to Congress today.

IRA on WGN Radio - Staffing Challenges, Unemployment Benefits, Getting People Back to Work

IRA President & CEO Sam Toia recently joined WGN Radio to discuss the ongoing challenges facing restaurants in hiring workers, including President Biden's call on restaurants to raise wages to attract employees.

Click here to listen to the segment.

Summer Board of Directors Meeting Recap

This week, the IRA held its Summer Board of Directors meeting at Tree House in Chicago - our first in person Board meeting in nearly a year and a half. Thank you to IRA Chairman Sam Sanchez of Third Coast Hospitality for hosting the meeting, and Senate President Don Harmon for joining us to provide an update from Springfield.

We appreciate retiring BACP Commissioner Rosa Escareno and Acting Commissioner Ken Meyer for joining us as well.

The IRA's Fall Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, October 20.

Sam Toia on The Daily Line's CloudCast

IRA President & CEO recently joined The Daily Line for a podcast focused on the status of the restaurant industry in Chicago, and what can be done at the local, state, and federal levels to support hospitality businesses and their team members.

Click here to listen to the podcast.

SBA Assistance for Businesses Impacted by Tornados and Severe Storms in June

The state of Illinois recently announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) approval of the state’s request for assistance for people and businesses in DuPage County who were affected by the severe storms and tornadoes that occurred in June.

The newly approved declaration by the feds will allow eligible residents and businesses to apply for low-interest, long-term loans. Assistance will be available to residents and businesses in DuPage County, as well as those in Cook, Kane, Kendall and Will counties.  

Click here to read the full announcement.

Share With Your Team - State Expansion of Financial Assistance for Families Seeking Child Care

Governor Pritzker recently announced a significant expansion of financial assistance for families that allows children to return to quality, affordable child care programs. Eighty percent of families will pay less for child care under this latest round of changes. Click here to read the full announcement.

Restaurant and hospitality operators should share the below information with your team members that may be in need of child care assistance.

As of July 1, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has facilitated the following improvements:

• Reducing family payments: Family payments or copayments -- the monthly amount parents are required to pay to childcare providers for the cost of their child care -- will be permanently lowered to $1 per month for families with incomes at or below 100% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL). 80% of all families will see a reduction in their monthly co-pay.

• Preserving co-pay percentage limits: Family payments will remain permanently capped at 7% of family income, with co-pays for 80% of families falling below that rate. 

• Helping families as income grows: Going forward, CCAP families will now remain eligible until the family's income surpasses 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), instead of the current cap of 225%. The income thresholds to be eligible for and to remain on the Child Care Assistance Program have been updated to current FPL and State Median Income (SMI) amounts. Payments will increase from there on a sliding scale based on family income. These improvements allow families more flexibility as people begin to return to work and rebuild from the financial impact of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Click here to find child care and early learning programs near you.

Watch on Demand - Webinar on Work Opportunity Tax Credits to Save Restaurants Thousands When Hiring

Thank you to everyone that attended and our panelists from the National Restaurant Association and Tax Credit Co. for joining our webinar earlier this week on the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), including who is eligible, how to claim it, and the benefits that are available to restaurants of all sizes.

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.