GRA Weekly | September 12, 2021

GRA Weekly

September 12, 2021

This week's newsletter is brought to you by IRONWOOD, a Marsh McLennan Agency.

VACCINE MANDATES

President Biden Announces Federal Vaccine Mandate for Employers with 100+ Employees

Last Thursday, President Biden announced that he will sign an executive order directing the U.S. Department of Labor to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for all personnel at companies with more than 100 employees. The directive is expected to include a mandatory weekly test-out option, if the employee refuses the vaccine.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will issue an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) to implement this requirement, which impacts more than 80 million workers in private sector businesses. The ETS will also include a requirement that these employers provide paid time off for employees to go get their vaccine.

At this time, there is no language available, and reports indicate the rule won't be issued for several weeks. There is also not yet an announced effective date for this proposed rule.

Official Statement from the National Restaurant Association

“The National Restaurant Association and the restaurant industry support vaccination for everyone because higher vaccination rates are our best bet for containing the spread of COVID-19. Our COVID-19 Operating Guidance best practices continue to suggest that all restaurant employees be vaccinated if possible. While we appreciate the intent of this executive order, we hope that the Administration will work with us to take into consideration the unique operations of restaurants when creating the guidelines for implementation.” -- Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, National Restaurant Association.

Click here to learn more about the White House’s vaccination plans here.

We will continue to monitor the issue and will provide updates as details become available.

SBA ANNOUNCES COVID EIDL ENHANCEMENTS

Small business restaurants now have expanded access to working capital with favorable repayment terms through a revamped COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program. The National Restaurant Association, along with our state and local partners, have been advocating for an expansion to the program. Currently, EIDLs are the only federal solution that provides critical access to capital for restaurants and other small businesses. As a result of the program expansion, loan amounts have been increased and funds can be used to pay previous commercial/private debt. The SBA is ready to receive new applications immediately from small businesses looking to take advantage of these new policy changes.

Key changes being announced by the SBA include:

Increasing the COVID EIDL Cap. The SBA will lift the COVID EIDL cap from $500,000 to $2 million. Loan funds can be used for any normal operating expenses and working capital, including payroll, purchasing equipment, and paying debt.
Implementation of a Deferred Payment Period. The SBA will ensure small business owners will not have to begin COVID EIDL repayment until two years after loan origination so that they can get through the pandemic without having to worry about making ends meet.
Establishment of a 30-Day Exclusivity Window. To ensure Main Street businesses have additional time to access these funds, the SBA will implement a 30-day exclusivity window of approving and disbursing funds for loans of $500,000 or less. Approval and disbursement of loans over $500,000 will begin after the 30-day period.
Expansion of Eligible Use of Funds. COVID EIDL funds will now be eligible to prepay commercial debt and make payments on federal business debt.
Simplification of affiliation requirements. To ease the COVID EIDL application process for small businesses, the SBA has established more simplified affiliation requirements to model those of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund.

Additional Materials:

All business owners that have received previous loans through the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), or Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG) can still benefit from COVID EIDL.

Join the National Restaurant Association for a special webinar this week to review the new SBA loan options for restaurants and small businesses on Wednesday, September 15, 2021 at 2:00PM ET. Register.

LET'S PLAY!

Join us on October 25th at The Standard Club for the 1st Annual GRA Foundation Golf Tournament. Have fun, network and perfect your chip shot as we take to the golf course to raise funds for the GRA Foundation, the only 501(c)3 non-profit foodservice foundation dedicated to investing in our youth and workforce in Georgia. Your participation will help support ProStart® and enrichment opportunities like mentorships, job-training, training for teachers, and scholarships. Learn More.

Monday, October 25, 2021

The Standard Club

IMPORTANT STATE UPDATES

Georgia Department of Revenue: New Instructions for the Issuance of Alcohol and Tobacco Licenses

Effective with the 2022 renewal season and beginning September 1, 2021, the Department of Revenue will no longer issue and print alcohol or tobacco licenses on color bonded certificate paper containing a watermark. Additionally, the Department will not provide a license pick-up service or mail licenses to licensees. All alcohol and tobacco licenses will be available for viewing through the Georgia Tax Center (GTC) and must be printed by the licensee. Learn how to print an alcohol or tobacco license.

Georgia Department of Revenue: Sales & Use Tax Rates Effective October 1, 2021

The Georgia Department of Revenue has posted the upcoming quarterly sales and use tax rate changes. No counties are affected this period. Please visit the Department's website to view current, historical, and upcoming sales and use tax rate charts.

NATIONAL FOOD SAFETY MONTH

National Food Safety Month | Week 3

Those of us in the restaurant industry know the importance of cleaning and sanitizing. Over the past year and a half, customers have gotten on board and are seeking out restaurants that are dedicated to providing a safe and clean dining space. This is why for National Food Safety Month, the GRA, the National Restaurant Association, and ServSafe will provide focused educational materials on Cleaning and Sanitizing for restaurant owners, operators, managers, and employees. Follow along on social with #NFSM2021 or visit www.FoodSafetyFocus.com for access to free educational content all month long.

Enjoy a 20% discount on ServSafe products all month long using code ServSafe20.

GRA EXCLUSIVE WEBINAR

GRA Exclusive Webinar: Consumer Insights for a Post-COVID World

Please join us Thursday, September 23rd at 2:00PM, for a GRA Exclusive Webinar: Consumer Insights for a Post-COVID World, presented by Lisa Pinkston, Director of Customer Growth, The Coca-Cola Company. Dial-in or watch live via Zoom for a conversation about consumer behaviors and expectations in the restaurant industry and the evolution of value in our new reality.

Thursday, September 23rd | 2:00PM - 3:00PM

RESTAURANT IMPACT SURVEY

Coronavirus Restaurant Impact Survey - September 2021

The National Restaurant Association is collecting information on the economic impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Please be assured that all information provided is anonymous and strictly confidential. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. Please submit a completed survey by September 15. Thank you for your time, and don't hesitate to email Bruce Grindy at bgrindy@restaurant.org if you have any questions.

Take the Survey Today!

ARE YOU CHICKEN?

Win 10K and help the Atlanta restaurant community

Hey Independent Atlanta Chefs! We encourage you to enter the Incogmeato® I’m Not Chicken Challenge for a chance to win $10,000. For every entry that comes in, Incogmeato will donate $50 to Southern Smoke Foundation to support food and beverage industry workers in Atlanta.*

Here's how to enter:

Sign up to get a FREE SAMPLE at IncogmeatoContestSamples.com
Create the most delicious, menu - worthy, craveable concept using plant -based Incogmeato Homestyle Chik’n Tenders
Post a picture of the menu concept to your Instagram feed with #IncogmeatoContest Entry and a menu description in the caption.

Make sure your profile is public so the post is visible! Posts must be uploaded between 9/7/21 - 10/12/21. Contest is only open to chefs or restaurant operators of independent restaurants (between 1-20 units) with a public menu (excludes catering and/or private clubs) located in Georgia. Must be 18+ and a Georgia resident to enter. See official rules and details at ImNotChickenChallenge.com.

*up to $10,000

HUNGER ACTION MONTH

Join the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) in September for Hunger Action Month, a time for our community to stand together to end hunger. Whether it's starting a fundraiser, making a generous donation or volunteering your time, there are numerous opportunities to support the working families, children and seniors the ACFB serves. Check out ways you can act all month long and join the #HungerActionMonth conversation at www.acfb.org.

COVID-19 EMPLOYER "BOOSTER" SERIES

Join Marsh McLennan Agency for a timely 3-part webcast series designed to bring you up to speed on the latest business, compliance, and FDA developments related to the COVID-19 vaccines. During this series, we will bring together subject matter experts to highlight employer considerations and to help you make informed business decisions. Please sign up for one or all three of the sessions here.