Vaccination Requirement Update, Annual Meeting Recap, Budget Address

Update on Vaccination Requirements in Chicago and Cook County

As COVID-19 indicators have dropped precipitously in recent weeks, the IRA has been in communication with Chicago and Cook County officials regarding lifting vaccination requirements for indoor dining.

We remain optimistic that if the city and county continue to make progress with decreasing cases and hospitalizations, the vaccination requirements for indoor dining may soon be lifted.

At the IRA's Annual Meeting yesterday, Mayor Lightfoot noted, "As long as we continue to make progress with a downward trend in the city’s overall COVID-19 metrics, we will be able to lift the vaccination requirement for indoor dining in a matter of weeks."

We continue to encourage all operators and employees to adhere to city and county vaccination requirement rules for their businesses.

Read more from Crain's Chicago Business and NBC5 Chicago.

2022 Annual Meeting Recap

Yesterday, the IRA hosted our 2022 Annual Meeting and Installation of Officers Luncheon at The Union League Club of Chicago. Congratulations to Sam Sanchez of Third Coast Hospitality on the continuation of his service as Chairman of the IRA Board of Directors, and to our newly-inducted Board of Directors and Advisory Council members.  

We were honored to be joined by Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who discussed the need for resilience and continued hope despite recent setbacks with the Omicron variant. She also commended the restaurant industry for taking steps to keep their diners and team members safe, and noted possible changes on the horizon for vaccination requirements for indoor dining in Chicago.

The day's top honors included the following IRA Industry Awards: 

Sara Rowe ProStart® Company of the Year
EMPLOYERS, Wayne Hilston

Vendor of the Year 
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Terry Brick and Mike Evans

Pineapple Hospitality Award
Julia Momosé, Kumiko and Cocktails for Hope

Restaurateur of the Year 
Steven Hartenstein, Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants and Lucca Osteria & Bar

The IRA is looking forward to a successful and eventful 2022! Click here for more photos from the event.

Governor Pritzker Issues State of the State and Budget Address

Earlier this week, Governor Pritzker issued his budget and State of the State address.

The $45.4 billion budget includes $1 billion in relief from grocery, gas and property taxes, and increased payments to state pensions and the rainy day fund. Additionally, the budget proposal calls for a one-year waiver of retail liquor license fees to aid restaurants, bars, and liquor license holders.

The IRA appreciates Governor Pritzker outlining a budget plan that includes a waiver of state liquor licensing fees for restaurants and bars. We will continue to advocate for enhanced relief and support for Illinois' hospitality and tourism community from the General Assembly during budget negotiations in the coming weeks.

Read more from The Daily Herald and Crain's Chicago Business.

Mayor Lightfoot Calls for RRF Replenishment to IL Congressional Delegation

Thank you for Mayor Lightfoot for standing with the IRA to call on Illinois' Congressional delegation to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). Click here to read the letter.
If you have not already done so, please take one minute to complete our latest call to action on RRF today, and share with your networks. Make your voice count!

Join Us Tuesday for our Webinar on ServSafe Ops - Free to IRA Members for Six Months

ServSafe Ops is a new application developed by the National Restaurant Association to help assist restaurants with operational efficiency, compliance guidelines, training, and providing information to their employees.

This easy-to-use app is free to IRA members for six months.

Join us for a webinar on Tuesday, February 8 at 10:00 a.m. to review the program and have your questions answered.

Click here to register.

Notice on ERTC Refunds & Bipartisan Q4 Restoration

Many restaurants are eagerly awaiting COVID-related Employee Cetention Tax Credit (ERTC) refunds. While it is a challenge to wait over nine months for a payment, it may be a crisis if the business 1) files their 2021 tax return and cannot deduct normal payroll expenses due to ERTC and/or 2) learns that ERTC was terminated for the 4th calendar quarter.

The National Restaurant Association led calls for the IRS to speed ERTC refunds in a November letter. Restaurants continue to share this urgency with Congress and lawmakers are beginning to contact the IRS. Last week, 216 legislators called the IRS backlog “devastating to small businesses” and asked the IRS to quickly process 500,000 amended Forms 941 so that ERTC refunds can be delivered. Lawmakers are now increasingly concerned about the refund backlog getting worse in March/April.

The Association is also supporting the “ERTC Reinstatement Act” (H.R. 6161), which simply restores ERTC eligibility for the 4th quarter of 2021. Currently, the House bill has 49 supporters – 21 Democrats and 28 Republicans – and we expect a bipartisan Senate companion introduced as soon as February 10. In a January survey, 60% of restaurant respondents said they experienced losses of 20% or more in Q4 – which would make them eligible for ERTC if H.R. 6161 becomes law. If Q4 is restored, ERTC would be available to any eligible small business, but restaurants are uniquely eligible due to economic headwinds.

Members are advised to speak to their accountant or tax professional with questions regarding ERTC and upcoming tax filings.

As a reminder - the IRA has launched a partnership with Adesso Capital to help restaurants and other small businesses apply for ERTC. Click here to learn more.

Services Available Through Illinois Access to Justice Program

Illinois Access to Justice seeks to provide legal representation, resources, and education for those in vulnerable communities dealing with the devastating consequences of incarceration and family separation.

Visit ILAccessToJustice.com for assistance.