Chefs for Ukraine Event, Contact IL Leaders, Tax and Legal Tips Webinar

Support Ukrainian Refugees at Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine Benefit

Join the IRA and your favorite Chicagoland chefs for Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine - a delicious and one of a kind evening on Wednesday, March 16 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. dedicated to raising funds for World Central Kitchen's work benefiting Ukrainian refugee families in need of a nutritious meal.

Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine is hosted by IRA Advisory Council member Chef Tony Priolo, Chef Sarah Stegner, Darren Gest, Eda Davidman, and Green City Market, and the event is presented by Lifeway Foods.

100% of the event proceeds will benefit World Central Kitchen. Click here to purchase tickets.

Send a Message Today - Tell the Illinois General Assembly to Help Save Restaurants and Jobs

Yesterday, IRA President & CEO Sam Toia testified at the Illinois Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee about the state of the restaurant industry and the urgent need for the General Assembly to help restaurants recover by providing additional financial support.

Click here to read more from The Daily Line.

We are urging leaders in Springfield to appropriate funding in this year's budget for direct, one-time grants to restaurants, bars, and other hospitality businesses.

You can help us now by taking one minute to send a message to your Representative and Senator to ask for their support. Please share our call to action with your colleagues in the industry!

90-Second Advocacy Update: RRF Left Out of Omnibus

By now you have heard that Congress passed an Omnibus spending package this week that did not include replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). 

Since the woefully underfunded RRF ran out of money last June, the IRA, National Restaurant Association, other state restaurant association partners, and restaurant supporters across the country have relentlessly advocated for Congress to replenish the program through any means possible. We’ve continued to highlight that restaurant recovery was going in reverse as the industry was forced to adapt to the delta and omicron variants, a labor shortage, inflation, and supply chain delays. 

There is still talk of including restaurants in a separate COVID relief package, but right now, the odds don't look good. We are still applying pressure to Congress to complete the mission of fully funding the RRF. 

We know you all have fought hard for RRF, and we are extremely frustrated by the lack of action from Congress. We will continue to fight for every solution that helps restaurants recover from the pandemic.

National Restaurant Association EVP of Public Affairs Sean Kennedy covers the latest in a 90 Second Advocacy Update.

IRA on Jobs Report, Continued Need for Support

The IRA recently spoke with CBS2 about the latest job report in Illinois and what it means for restaurants' recovery.

"While Illinois restaurants are slowly recovering, they are still down more than 60,000 jobs since before the pandemic," said IRA President & CEO Sam Toia. "We continue to push for enhanced financial support for struggling hospitality businesses - including our request for $125M in restaurant relief grants from the Illinois General Assembly - which would help restaurants pay their overdue bills, hire back more employees, and ultimately stay in business."

Click here to watch the segment.

Webinar Next Week - Expert Tax and Legal Tips for Right Now

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association and panelists from accounting firm Plante Moran and law firm Laner Muchin on Thursday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m. for a webinar providing expert ideas and guidance you can use in your business right now. Hear valuable finance tips and important employment law updates for the hospitality industry. 

Click here to register.

Chicago Restaurant Week x Immersive Frida Kahlo Event

Join Choose Chicago in celebration of Frida Kahlo and Chicago Restaurant Week on Tuesday, March 22 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at Lighthouse ArtSpace Chicago. Immerse yourself in art while enjoying tasting portions and cocktails from 10 great neighborhood restaurants as well as sips from our beverage partners.

Participating restaurants include: 14 Parish Restaurant & Rhum Bar, Bar Roma, Carnivale, Cocoa Chili Restaurant & Catering, Cooking from the Soul, Kinzie Chophouse, Mary Jane Cafe, Norman’s Bistro, Tengoku Aburiya, Venteux Brasserie, and Cafe & Oyster Bar

Click here to purchase tickets.