GRA Weekly

February 17, 2022

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

RESTAURANT RELIEF GRANT RECIPIENTS ANNOUNCED

Intuit QuickBooks, Mailchimp, & GRA Award $100,000 to Twenty Georgia Restaurants

QuickBooks collaborated with the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA), to provide 20 small restaurants each with a $5,000 grant and one-year free subscriptions to QuickBooks Online and Mailchimp to help run and grow their businesses.

The grants were awarded to restaurants that fall into this net revenue category and can be used toward payroll and operating expenses to address staffing challenges and drive growth. Click here for more details on the qualifications and selection process that was used to determine final recipients.

List of Recipients

The 20 recipients are located in the metro Atlanta area plus Macon, Athens and Augusta, GA:

Big Dave's Cheesesteaks - premier cheesesteak eatery
Buvez - Euro-style cafe with French- and German-style pastries and lunch items
Creme de la Crepe - French-inspired cafe with sweet and savory crepes
Catfish Hox - made-to-order Southern scratch kitchen
EAT Catering Concepts - catering service with delightful seasonal menus
Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast - small batch southern cooking
Her Majesty Kitchen + Catering - curated culinary experiences and catering
Joy Cafe - traditional southern and rural European recipes
Joystick Gamebar - classic arcade games and delicious cocktails
Lazy Susan Tapas Bar - small plates, wine and cocktails
Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant - authentic Mexican-American
Marietta Diner - 24-hour diner with Greek specialty meals and big breakfasts
Mushi Ni - locally sourced Asian American dishes
NaanStop - authentic Indian cuisine
Old South Bar-B-Q - family owned and operated BBQ
Q'Paso Latin Grub - authentic Latin fusion restaurant and food truck
Romeo's NY Pizza - authentic “old-school” NY-style pizza
Seven Sisters Scones - bakery and cafe with fresh, inventive scones
The Nook on Piedmont Park - local tavern with a charitable food menu
The Southern Salad - fresh, quick-service bowls and smoothies

Read the full press release.

FUNDING AVAILABLE

Atlanta relaunches Resurgence Grant Fund

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens announced the renewal of the Resurgence Grant Fund. Eligible businesses may be awarded grants of up to $40,000 to reimburse costs incurred (after March 3, 2021) by adapting business operations in a post-COVID environment. Applications for the program open on March 1 and will run through April 29.

Eligibility requirements include:

Holds a 2022 City of Atlanta business license (as required for those businesses by State, Federal, or Local law);
Had fewer than 250 employees as of December 31, 2021;
Can attest to not receiving funds from any other Federal funds or relief for the same loss or expense being reimbursed under the RGF program; and
Can attest to having a financial hardship such as declines in revenues or impacts of periods of business closure as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Non corporate-owned franchises.

Learn more about eligibility requirements and to apply here.

Fulton Announces Additional $25 Million in Emergency Rental Assistance Funding Now Available

Fulton County received official confirmation from the U.S. Treasury Department on Friday, February 4 of an additional $25 million in Emergency Rental Assistance Program funding to continue rent and utility support for Fulton County residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any Fulton County residents residing outside the City of Atlanta who are in need of Emergency Rental Assistance may learn more about eligibility and submit their application at www.fultoncountyga.gov/renthelp or by calling 855-776-7912 to speak to a live agent (M-F, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.). Learn more.

STATE OF THE PLATE

Do you have car charging ports? Have comments about Third Party Delivery Apps? Learn what legislators are doing about these issues and more with GRA President + CEO, Karen Bremer. Watch now.

GIVING EMPLOYEE FEEDBACK

Everything you need to know about...Giving effective feedback

Mailchimp Courier - If you're leading a team, providing people with ongoing feedback – both positive and negative – will not only help their development, but it'll also make a big difference to your work. The key is following a simple structure – and doing it regularly.

What we're talking about

In basic terms, giving feedback to someone consists of saying: when you act in this way, this is the effect. That can either be positive stuff (AKA reinforcing feedback), or more negative (AKA redirecting feedback). The aim in both situations is to have an effect on someone's future behavior: to encourage something that's working, to start something new or to stop an existing behavior. Feedback should generally be about relatively small things and the conversation can be super short, too. It's not an argument, a discussion or a personal attack – it's about specific behaviors and should be delivered pretty promptly after that behavior occurs. Read more.

GRA IN THE NEWS

Congratulations to GRA President + CEO, Karen Bremer, on being named in the 2022 Atlanta 500: Restaurants & Hospitality Atlanta Magazine - Read more.

Karen Bremer of the Georgia Restaurant Association, Challenges COVID-19 has Created for the Restaurant Industry

Metro Atlanta CEO - President & CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association Karen Bremer talks about the impact COVID-19 created for the restaurant industry and some of the positives that have resulted from the challenges. Watch here.

TASTE OF GEORGIA

13th Annual Taste Of Georgia Legislative Reception

This annual event is an opportunity for GRA members to showcase their food to elected officials and for our legislators to network with our state’s second largest employer. The honorees of the 2022 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program will also be recognized.

GRA Restaurant Members: If you are interested in participating and showcasing your restaurant, send us an email at info@garestaurants.org.

Attendance is complimentary for lobbyists, dignitaries, legislators, staff and their guests however registration is required. Discounted registration is available for GRA Members.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Association Urges Congress to Pass ERTC Bill

In a letter to congressional leaders last week, the Association urged Congress to pass the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Reinstatement Act to restore the program to cover Q4 of 2021. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced the ERTC Reinstatement Act late last week after Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced a companion bill in the House in December.

RRF Grassroots Campaign Expands

The Association has expanded its recent RRF grassroots campaign so that other industries and allies that rely on restaurants can join our efforts urging Congress to replenish the RRF. Even though Congress is weeks away from considering a spending bill for all government operations, there’s still time for restaurant owners, operators, and employees to take action to replenish the RRF.

House Passes CR Through Mid-March

The House passed another continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government at current levels through March 11. The Senate has yet to pass the temporary spending bill. The current CR expires this Friday.

Bill Ending Forced Arbitration Clears Senate

Last Thursday, the Senate passed bipartisan legislation that eliminates mandatory arbitration in cases involving sexual assault or sexual harassment. While victims are free to pursue lawsuits in court, they could still choose arbitration. The bill now awaits President Biden’s signature.

FREE SERVSAFE COURSE

ServSafe COVID-19 Conflict De-Escalation Course is FREE

Course offers restaurant employees guidance on how to reduce tensions and promote a safe environment when following mask and vaccination proof mandates. Teach employees how to ease tensions while maintaining the spirit of hospitality throughout all interactions. Get it here.

GEORGIA RESTAURANT // JAMES BEARD AWARD WINNER

2022 America's Classics Award Winners!

James Beard Foundation - The James Beard Foundation announced today the six recipients of its 2022 America's Classics Award. A Restaurant and Chef category, The America's Classics Award is given to locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal and are beloved regionally for quality food that reflects the character of its community. This year’s honorees join the ranks of over 100 restaurants across the country that have received the Award since the category was introduced in 1998. They will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 13, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Congratulations to GRA Member - Tracy Gates + The Busy Bee Café!

The Busy Bee Café // 810 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, SW Atlanta, GA // Owner: Tracy Gates

When Lucy Jackson opened the Busy Bee Café on what was then called Hunter Street in 1947, it was one of only two streets in the city of Atlanta open to Black entrepreneurs after the race riots pushed the community from downtown Atlanta. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights icons frequented Busy Bee to enjoy a hearty meal of fried chicken, ham hocks, catfish, collard greens, macaroni cheese, cornbread, and other soulful dishes. Today, the cafe is owned by the Gates family with Tracy Gates at the helm. Tracy has worked hard to revive the restaurant to Jackson’s standard of providing excellent service and consistent food preparation. It remains a community gathering spot, as well as a tourist destination, where locals, regional and international celebrities, and a bastion of comforting soul food for generations past and present come to roost.

Read the full list.