THURSDAY, APRIL 6

Illinois Municipal Election Recap

On Tuesday, Chicago and cities across the State held municipal elections.

Chicago: Before the run-off, IRA Leadership sat down with now Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson to answer questions and share his vision for the City. The IRA is looking forward to working with the new administration and is actively working to advance the interests of the restaurant community in Chicago.

The IRA also supported a number of pragmatic candidates for Chicago City Council and will continue to forge strong relationships with new and incumbent Aldermen. In the run off, 6 of the 10 candidates the IRA supported won, and one race is to close to call. Overall, the IRA and our partners backed 37 successful City Council candidates. Thank you to all those

who supported our efforts. For a full rundown Chicago election rundown, click here.

Springfield: City Treasurer Misty Buscher unseated two-term Mayor Jim Langfelder. For a recap of Springfield elections, click here.

Naperville: Scott Wehrli will be the next Mayor to succeed outgoing Mayor Steve Chirico. For more Naperville election updates, click here.

Evanston: Krissie Harris of the 2nd Ward and Juan Geracaris of the 9th Ward won their elections on Tuesday. Both Aldermen were appointed last year by Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and will now serve out the remainder of their terms. For more information on Evanston elections, click here.

The IRA will continue to engage elected officials across the state to communicate the interests of the restaurant industry.

Restaurant B2B Grants Now Open Through May 10

Restaurant recovery grants are now open and close May 10. The IRA advocated for these Back to Business grants and we are working with our partners at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to provide application assistance.

Restaurants, taverns, bars, caterers, breweries, wineries, and food trucks can all apply. All applicants will receive a grant as long as the business meets eligibility requirements and submits proper documentation. Eligible hospitality businesses will be determined by revenue declines, as reflected on tax returns.

For more information about these grants and the application process, click here.

Taste of Chicago Vendor Applications Now Open

Vendor applications are now open for Taste of Chicago 2023. Restaurants, food trucks, caterers, and shared kitchens can all apply to participate in Taste of Chicago.

This year, Taste of Chicago will have three pop up events on June 24, July 15, and August 5 in neighborhoods across the city, as well as in Grant Park, September 8, 9, 10.

Participants must be located in the City of Chicago. Preference will be given to those participants who exemplify the culinary treasures of the city and/or are a part of Chicago’s exciting culinary scene, who propose to serve unique menu items, and who represent ethnic and culinary diversity.

Applications are due May 1. For more information on applications, click here.

Support IRAEF through Summer Internships and Chef's Table

The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) is looking to help out ProStart students by placing them in summer jobs and internships. To register to have summer interns, click here. For questions and ways to get involved in IRAEF, contact Jessica Blomquist.

To continue to support the IRAEF efforts, Chef's Table 2023 is right around the corner. Tickets and silent auction donations are still available for the event on April 20. This is the biggest event benefitting the IRAEF annually and promises to be a groovy time!

For more information and tickets, click here.

Staff Up at Hospitality Hires on April 18

The IRA, Choose Chicago, The Magnificent Mile Association, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, Chicago Loop Alliance, Near South Planning Board, World Business Chicago, and Cook County are once again partnering with the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership to host the 6th Hospitality Hires Chicago (HHC) event on Tuesday, April 18 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at The Palmer House Hilton Chicago.

To date, HHC events have helped more than 900 people get hired or secured conditional job offers and is providing more than 200 employers with access to more than a thousand pre-screened work-ready candidates. Employers from retail, transportation, food services, hospitality, and related sectors are committing to hire hundreds of our residents.

To secure a table for your business at the event, click here. If you have any questions, please contact The Partnership’s Business Relations Specialist Marion A. Batey.

Sign up for Advancing Health & Well-being Conference at Kendall College

The IRA is partnering with Kendall College for an inspiring, interactive conversation with industry leaders and experts about how to create a healthier, more inclusive workplace culture.

The conference is Friday, April 28 from 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. For more information and to sign up, click here.

NEXT COURSE

April 11, 17, 19: Sanitation Manager Certification

April 12, 18, 27: Summer Festival Certification

April 12: IRA Spring Board Meeting

April 18: Hospitality Hires Event

April 20: Chef's Table

April 28: Kendall College: Advancing Health & Well-Being in Hospitality Conference

May 17: Meet the Experts

May 20-23: National Restaurant Show

May 22: Save the Date: IRA PAC Fundraiser

June 5: James Beard Awards

Join Your Peers at the National Restaurant Show

In less than 10 weeks, foodservice’s best and brightest will descend on Chicago for the industry’s most important gathering—the National Restaurant Association Show. Thousands of your operator colleagues have used our discounted rates to reserve their spot at the 2023 Show. Now it’s you turn. Won’t you join them?

Click the button below register and start planning your trip to the 2023 Show today.