Back to Business Grants, Masks Required in Chicago, Tips Qualify as Wages for ERTC

Sponsorships Available for Rooftop Membership Mixer

Looking to connect with leaders of the restaurant and hospitality community? Sponsorship opportunities are now available for the IRA's Rooftop Membership Mixer on Wednesday, September 8.

Click here to buy your tickets for a night of fun, networking, and baseball.

Contact Christine DeSousa for more information about attending or sponsoring the event.

Back to Business Grant Application Portal Now Live, Webinar on Demand

The application portal for the state's $250M Back to Business grant program is now open.

What You Need to Know

• $25M in grant funding is prioritized for restaurants and bars that did not receive a Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) grant.

• Grants will range in size from $5,000-$150,000, commensurate with the amount of losses experienced by the business.

• To be considered for a grant, applicants must demonstrate a reduction in revenue in 2020 as compared with 2019, and annual revenues of no more than $20 million in 2019. 

• Priority will be given to the following categories:

• Hard-hit industries, including restaurants

• Hard-hit areas – DIAs comprising of 176 zip codes

• Businesses who have yet to qualify for state funding or federal assistance (including the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), business Interruption Grant (BIG), Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), and more)

• Businesses that had less than $5 million in revenue in 2019

• Click here to review the program FAQ.

• Click here to review the documents required to apply.

Watch on Demand - IRA Webinar on Back to Business

Thank you for everyone that attended and panelists from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and DCEO Community Navigator, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development for joining our webinar earlier today that provided information about this new grant program, how to apply, and how to get help with your questions.

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

City of Chicago Requires Masks Indoors in All Public Places, Effective Friday, August 20

Earlier this week, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that masks will be required in indoor public settings for all persons over 2 years old - regardless of vaccination status - effective Friday, August 20.

Click here to read the full announcement. Click here to download an updated face coverings required poster from CDPH.

What Restaurants and Bars Need to Know

• Masks are required in all indoor public settings, including bars and restaurants.

• Similar to previous mask mandates, masks can be removed at restaurants, bars and other eating/drinking establishments by patrons when they are actively eating and drinking.

• The new public health order does not include capacity limits at public places, and masking remains optional in outdoor settings, where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is lower.

• Masks are recommended for unvaccinated individuals in crowded outdoor settings.

• More information and guidance for business is posted to chicago.gov/reopening.

• The Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) will be holding a webinar on Friday, August 20 at 1:00 p.m. to provide an overview of the mask mandate. Click here to register.

Click here to download a graphic template to add to your touchless menus in order to remind customers of the city of Chicago's mask requirement.

Sam Toia on WLS Radio - Mask Enforcement, Vaccine Policies, Restaurant Closures, and More

Earlier today, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia joined WLS Radio to discuss the city of Chicago's mask requirements, vaccination policies, staffing concerns at restaurants, and more.

Click here to listen to the segment.

Vienna Beef Hot Dog Challenge Benefits IRAEF Employee Relief Fund

Today, Vienna Beef has launched a challenge to help support its recovering vendors as the city returns to entertainment and activities.

Now through Sunday, October 17, the Vienna Beef Hot Dog Stand Challenge encourages diners to visit as many local hot dogs stands as they can. The Vienna Beef Top Dog title will be awarded to the person who has the most check-ins at different participating locations. The prize package includes four premier and exclusive tickets to Chicago sports and entertainment events totaling one event every month for a year. The Top Dog will also be treated to a private tour of the Vienna Beef factory, a $1,000 ViennaBeef.com gift card and, for bragging rights, a one-of-a-kind Vienna Beef Top Dog trophy and t-shirt.

Contest participants will also help support the entire state’s restaurant industry, as at the completion of the challenge, Vienna Beef will make a donation to the IRAEF Employee Relief Fund. The IRA thanks Vienna Beef for their support of restaurant workers in need.

Click here to learn more about the challenge. Read more from Block Club Chicago.

Contact IRAEF Executive Director Kristen Hodges to get involved with IRAEF and help support the Employee Relief Fund.

Treasury Explains Treatment of Tips as Wages in ERTC

Following the recent IRS announcement, the Treasury Department recently released new guidance allowing businesses to claim tips paid by customers in excess of $20 per month as eligible wages when calculating the Employee Retention Tax Credit.

This is welcome news after the National Restaurant Association worked with Congress and the Administration to clarify eligible wages and tips. It also provides guidance on several other issues with respect to the ERTC for 2020 and 2021, responding to questions frequently asked of the Treasury and IRS.

Reminder - Expedited Restaurant Licensing in City of Chicago

Passed as a part of the Chi Biz Strong package, the city has implemented an expedited food licensing process - effective July 31, 2021 - to help fill empty restaurant spaces quickly and enable an estimated 1,000+ new restaurants to open up to 14 days sooner.

Click here to review the city's restaurant licensing process and connect with the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP).