GRA Weekly

March 17, 2022

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, NetTax.

SIPPIN' LOCAL | VOTE NOW

Sippin' Local Polls Open

InsiderAdvantage Georgia/JAMES Magazine announces the 3rd annual SIPPIN' LOCAL poll highlighting a growing Georgia industry. Everyone is invited to vote for their favorite breweries, distilleries and wineries located across the state. The top 10 vote getters in each category will be listed in the May/June issue of JAMES Magazine, and the number one company in each category will be spotlighted in a feature article. Make sure to come back every day to vote for your favorites and share the poll with your followers, friends and family! If you don't see your favorite on the list, choose the "other" option and write it in. We will add it to the ballot.

*In partnership with the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Craft Brewers Guild, Hospitality Business Network Foundation, Foodie Road Trip, Georgia Grown, Atlanta Beer and Wine Festivals and Georgia Distillers Association.

BRIGHTER FUTURE

Chef Simone Paves the Way for a Brighter Future in Partnership with Compass Group and Thompson Hospitality

Compass Group - A fierce, driven businesswoman who is a guiding force in her community – that’s how Chef Simone Byron’s mentor describes her. The rising star first started cooking at Disney and then grew her career at Compass Group. Today, she mentors other female chefs in the industry and partners with Thompson Hospitality and Compass Group to teach underserved, high-potential high schoolers, giving them the tools – and the pathway – to change the trajectory of their lives through the power of food. Read more.

"We’re so proud of the amazing work Chef Simone Byron is doing to represent Women in Culinary with Compass Group, Thompson Hospitality and The Navigate Program. We’re lucky to have her passion, drive, and expertise leading the GRA’s ProStart Program." - Karen Bremer

EIDL UPDATE

EIDL Payments Deferred 6 More Months

On Tuesday, the SBA announced a deferment extension for future payments on COVID-related economic injury disaster loans (EIDL). This deferment extension of up to 30 months is effective for all EIDLs approved in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Before this announcement, the deferment allowance was 24 months from the original loan’s closing date.

Restaurants should be aware that:

EIDLs now have a total deferment of 30 months from the date of the loan issuance, but interest continues to accrue during deferment. The EIDL interest rate for private businesses is 3.75% (2.75% for nonprofits) over 30 years.
The SBA warns borrowers that deferments could result in “balloon” payments.
Borrowers may make partial or full payments during the deferment period but are not required to. The SBA recommends using www.pay.gov. The SBA will not send monthly SBA Form 1201 payment notices, but the SBA will send regular payment reminders via email.
After the deferment period ends, EIDL Borrowers will be required to make regular principal and interest payments beginning 30 months from the date of the loan issuance.

Since 2020, the COVID EIDL program has provided more than $351 billion to 3.9 million borrowers. In September 2021, restaurants worked with the SBA to increase eligible EIDL amounts and allowable expenses, including debt financing.

STATE OF THE PLATE

Crossover has come and gone! What bills made it? What bills died? Get a brief legislative update from President + CEO Karen Bremer

Bills discussed: HB 304, HB 910, HB 1322, HB 1348, HB 1443, SB 212, SB 394, SB 492, SR 131, and SR 428
Watch Now.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

STATE UPDATES

Georgia legalizes the sale and use of water spinach

GRA President + CEO Karen Bremer joined Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, Reps. Marvin Lim & Pedro Marin, Georgia Food Industry Association President Kathy Kuzava and other industry members to celebrate the official announcement that water spinach is now allowed for sale in Georgia. Read more.

Georgia House passes bill to allow food trucks to operate statewide

Georgia food truck owners welcomed news the state House unanimously passed a bill Tuesday that would allow them to sell food anywhere in the state with a single permit. Currently, food trucks must pass a health inspection and obtain a permit for every county where they want to operate, costing some small business owners tens of thousands of dollars and many hours. Read more.

Bill suspending Georgia gas tax passes Senate

Lawmakers sent House Bill 304 flying through the General Assembly in nine days after the Republican Kemp first proposed the measure March 9. The measure passed the state Senate 55-0 on Thursday and earlier passed the state House 150-0. Governor Kemp could sign the measure into law as early as Friday. Read more.

HIRING TEENAGERS?

Be sure to review guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor to stay compliant!

Employing Youth in Restaurants under the Fair Labor Standards Act (Spanish version HERE).

Restaurant Employers Youth Employment Self Assessment Tool

Other restaurant industry resources may be found on the U.S. DOL's website.

PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS

The ABCs of PPP Loan Forgiveness

The deadline to apply for loan forgiveness on the second draw of the Paycheck Protection Program is coming up and applying is easier than ever. Join Association Director of Healthcare and Tax Policy Aaron Frazier for a webinar “Better to Ask for Forgiveness than Omission – PPP Second Draw” on March 29 at 2:00PM, to learn how to navigate the application process, what important information you'll need, and what happens if you miss the deadline. Register today.

HOSPITALITY EXPO

Join us at this year's Georgia Hospitality Expo + ProStart Invitational! At such a critical point in our industry, now is the time to get in front of qualified individuals looking to build a career in hospitality. Attendees will consist of upcoming high school graduates and local college students. Our goal is to use this event as a platform to educate attendees about the amazing opportunities of working in the hospitality and to provide companies and organizations like yours the opportunity to potentially interview and hire candidates on the spot. Learn more.

T‌uesday, Marc‌h 22, 2022

Interested in Exhibiting? Contact Adeola Sokunbi.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Omnibus Signed into Law

President Biden signed into law earlier this week the $1.5T Omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2022, which does not include money to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. After $15B in COVID-19 relief was stripped from the bill, it passed the House and Senate last week. Read the Association’s statement here.