GRA Weekly

May 30, 2021

This week's newsletter is brought to you by Society Insurance.

NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER

Latest Executive Order from Governor Brian Kemp

On Friday, May 28, Governor Brian P. Kemp issued a new Executive Order relating to COVID-19 in Georgia and guidelines businesses must follow. Executive Order 5.28.21.02 removes all remaining guidelines for Restaurants, Bars, Event Venues, etc. effective on May 31 at 12:00AM. This does not prohibit restaurants from continuing to require their own safety protocols as they best see fit for their business.

RRF UPDATE

Restaurant Revitalization Fund – Latest on Funding

Last Monday, the Small Business Administration (SBA) shut down the process to receive new applications for the RRF. The SBA testified on Wednesday and gave some remarkable data on the state of the program and its popularity.

Over 362,000 applications submitted
$75 billion in funding requested
208,000 applications received from the “priority access” communities targeted under the RRF plan

The $50 billion shortfall in available funds means that many of the priority applications will not receive grants, and likely most of the non-priority ones.

The National Restaurant Association, Georgia Restaurant Association and our partners at other state restaurant associations are working with the sponsors of the RESTAURANTS Act on legislation that would provide an infusion of new dollars into the RRF program. This would allow continued relief grants to be distributed to an industry that remains incredibly vulnerable as we reopen our doors.

The framework of the plan will be unveiled shortly after the Memorial Day weekend. We will generate grassroots support in asking Republicans and Democrats in Congress to cosponsor this needed plan.

RRF Grant Budget Tracking Tool Available, Petition Open for Additional Funding

To help you plan your RRF Grant expenditures and ensure compliance with eligible grant-use requirements, our partners at the National Restaurant Association have created some useful tools:

Next Steps Guide will help walk you through the proper use of funds to help prepare your RRF budget, understand potential state or local tax liability, and prepare for the "Use of Funds" validation process
Budget Tracking Tool is a downloadable, easy-to-use spreadsheet designed to help you track expenses and facilitate SBA's annual validation process (developed in partnership with the American Institute of CPAs)

To support additional RRF funding, sign the grassroots petition calling on all federal lawmakers—Congress and the Executive Branch—to provide additional relief to the restaurants that need it.

GA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

Sales & Use Tax Rates Effective July 1, 2021

The Georgia Department of Revenue has posted the upcoming quarterly sales and use tax rate changes.

Please visit the Department's website to view current, historical, and upcoming sales and use tax rate charts.

ERTC EXTENDED

ERTC Extended Through 2021

One especially bright spot of the American Rescue Plan Act is that the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) was extended from June 30 of this year to December 31. Now, if you’re eligible, you can access ERTC for up to $7,000 per eligible employee per quarter for all of 2021, for a potential total credit of $28,000 per eligible employee. Read More.

RESTAURANT STRONGER GRANT FUND

Grubhub And Restaurant Strong Fund Program Gives $2 Million To Help Restaurants Reopen

Independent restaurants in more than a dozen cities across the country can apply for a $5,000 Restaurant Stronger grant

CHICAGO and BOSTON, May 25, 2021 - Grubhub, a leading food-ordering and delivery marketplace, and The Greg Hill Foundation's Restaurant Strong Fund announced the latest phase in their commitment to supporting restaurants: the Restaurant Stronger program, a new initiative to provide $5,000 grants to eligible independent restaurants. As the industry faces new challenges post-pandemic, the Restaurant Stronger grants will help restaurants fully reopen their doors, including staff hiring and training, COVID-related requirements, and inventory purchasing. Read More.

To Learn More and Apply.

GRA PAC FUNDRAISER

Please join us on the banks of the Chattahoochee River for Wind Down by the River, a special reception in support of the National Restaurant Association Restaurant Political Action Committee and the GRA PAC*. Through your attendance and support, we are able to reach candidates who will advance a pro-restaurant pro-business legislative agenda, fight onerous legislation and address the issues that are most important to you.

Through your attendance and support, we are able to reach candidates who will advance a pro-restaurant pro-business legislative agenda, fight onerous legislation and address the issues that are most important to YOU.

Thursday, June 24 | 3:00PM - 5:00PM

#STRONGERTOGETHER

#StrongerTogether: PepsiCo Commits More Than $1,000,000 to Asian American Community Amid Pandemic Setbacks and Increased Race-Based Attacks.

Recognizing the devastating business and social impact to the Asian American community over the past year, PepsiCo and The PepsiCo Foundation announced a $1,000,000 commitment to provide support in partnership with the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC), the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), the National Restaurant Association (Association) and The Asian American Foundation (TAAF). These efforts are part of Stronger Together, community-based programs that leverage the expertise of PepsiCo and its partners to connect people and support communities in need. Read More.

Pepsico Stronger Together Asian Restaurant Support Information Request.

Asian-owned restaurants have been impacted by the pandemic and increased racial discrimination. PepsiCo, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), and the National Restaurant Association are collaborating to provide Asian restaurants with training, resources and employer support programming to help them rebuild or plan for what’s next. Learn More.

COVID VACCINE

GA DPH Will Come to Your Restaurant to Provide Vaccines for Your Employees.

In an effort to support the restaurant community's recovery from COVID-19, GA DPH is willing to come to your restaurant with a team of vaccine specialists to provide free vaccines and information for your employees. If you're interested in signing up, please email us at info@garestaurants.org.

SMALL DETAILS. BIG DIFFERENCE.

SBA UPDATES

EIDL Loans.

SBA recently posted FAQs about funds returned by banks for Targeted EIDL Advance and Supplemental Targeted Advance. When a bank returns Targeted EIDL Advance or Supplemental Targeted Advance funds to SBA, the funds cannot be immediately re-disbursed. SBA is working to mitigate this issue. Read the FAQs.

Last call for PPP loans

Four billion dollars remain in the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), and while banks are no longer offering PPP loans, many community financial institutions will continue to offer these loans through May 31st (or earlier, if funds run out). You can find a community financial institution through Opportunity Finance Network’s “finder” tool here or by using the FDIC’s map, which is searchable by location. Get answers to the most common questions about applying for a loan from a nonbank lender here.