Restaurant Support from Springfield, RRF Latest

Restaurant and Hospitality Grants Bill in Springfield

The IRA is working with Senator Sara Feigenholtz (6th) and Representative Mike Zalewski (23rd) on legislation in the Illinois General Assembly that would appropriate $125M in grants to restaurants, bars, and other hospitality businesses to help them pay their bills, keep their staff employed, and stay in business. Click here to read the Senate bill.

As budget negotiations progress in coming weeks, we will continue to urge the Illinois General Assembly to prioritize the needs of struggling hospitality businesses and their team members. We will keep IRA members aware of opportunities to support this push for enhanced relief from the state.

Tickets Now Available to Chef's Table

Join us at the 2022 Chef's Table benefiting the IRA Educational Foundation on Thursday, April 21 at Theater on the Lake. Click here to purchase your tickets today. 

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Click here to view the 2022 sponsorship packet. Please contact Katie Driscoll for more information. 

Click here for information on how to donate to the silent auction or raffle. 

ERTC Tax Implications FAQ - Tomorrow Morning

Join us on Tuesday, March 8 at 10:00 a.m. (Central) for an Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) FAQ Session on Facebook Live with the National Restaurant Association’s Director of Healthcare and Tax Policy Aaron Frazier.

As restaurant operators begin considering their tax filings for the 2021 fiscal year, Frazier will answer some FAQs about ERTC tax implications and provide the latest on the ERTC reinstatement bill.

Click here to learn more.

RRF Update - Do or Die This Month in Congress

Congress continues to move closer toward an agreement on a $1.5 trillion spending bill for all government functions. This bill is the best – and likely the only – vehicle to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF).

While there is bipartisan interest in our industry, there remains a large disagreement on how the government should pay for new RRF funds. The National Restaurant Association, IRA, and our state restaurant association partners are pressing both sides on the need to complete the mission of the RRF and that providing equal support for all applications should be a focal point. 

Rumors of whether we are “in” or “out” are unending, but we are undeterred. We recently worked with our partners in the wine/sprits/beer industries to get their employees and customers engaged in calling for action on RRF. We also continue to keep up the pressure at the local level on elected officials. We could know whether or not RRF will be included in the next spending bill within the next two weeks.

Thank you to everyone that has added their voice through our call to action already. If you know people who still have not added their voices, please share the link with them and urge them to do so.

Great Lakes State Restaurant Association Summit

Last week, the IRA welcomed a delegation of state restaurant association CEOs and senior staff from the Great Lakes region to Chicago for a Council of State Restaurant Associations (CSRA) summit to discuss best practices in advocacy, member value, communications, and programs.

Thank you to our colleagues from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin, as well as Sean Kennedy and Mike Whatley of the National Restaurant Association and Suzanne Bohle of CSRA for participating in productive and collaborative series of meetings. 

The Future of Hospitality Education Event

Join The Kendall College of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University for a stimulating dialogue with industry leaders on Friday, April 22 to discover how educators and advisors at the secondary and college levels can help prepare the best qualified candidates for the dynamic hospitality environment.

Click here to register.

Jean Banchet Award Nominees Announced

Congratulations to the nominees for the 2022 Jean Banchet Awards presented by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the only Chicago-based awards ceremony that recognizes originality and culinary talent throughout the region. Click here to read more from Eater Chicago.

The Awards will take place Sunday, May 1 at VenueSIX10 in Chicago. The IRA is a proud sponsor of the Awards. To learn more about the awards, view the list of nominees, and purchase tickets, click here.

Resources Available Through Illinois Access to Justice

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.