GRA Weekly

June 27, 2024

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

JOIN US FOR TEQUILA TUESDAY

Tequila Tuesday

Join us for our Tequila Tuesday fundraiser and networking event! Come enjoy a guided tequila tasting from one of the top brands in tequila, with food and drinks at Chicheria MX in Atlanta. Attendees will also have an opportunity to bid on premier bottles and hard-to-find tequila. All proceeds from the event will support the Georgia Restaurant Association, Georgia Restaurant Association PAC, and the Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation.

When: Tuesday, July 23, 2024 | 5:00PM - 8:00PM

Where: Chicheria MX | 202 Chattahoochee Row, Unit C, Atlanta, GA 30318

INVEST ATLANTA RECOVERY FUND APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN!

Apply for the Invest Atlanta Recovery Fund

Invest Atlanta has been tasked with facilitating the Small Business Recovery Grants introduced by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens and the Atlanta City Council. These grants will go to businesses located in the impact zone during the recent Atlanta water crisis, with priority given to a group of business categories which includes restaurants. Applications for the grant are open now through Monday, July 8!

Check here to see if your restaurant is eligible for funds and view an on-demand webinar hosted by Invest Atlanta, where your questions regarding eligibility, required documentation, and other information will be answered.

APPLY TODAY

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

Southern Hospitality Policy Discussion

Earlier this week, GRA President + CEO Stephanie Fischer joined an expert panel and Q&A session at Ohio River South's Southern Hospitality Policy Discussion, moderated by Atlanta Business Chronicle reporter Amy Wenk. Other panelists included Charlene Lopez, Executive VP and Chief Sales officer at the Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (ACVB), and Tom Curry, SVP of Global Corporate Affairs at International Hotel Group (IHG).

Last fall, Governor Kemp announced that 2022 was a record-breaking year for the state’s tourism and hospitality industries. More than 160 million visitors spent almost $40 billion over the course of the year - surpassing a previous high set in 2019. Estimates suggest that as much as a quarter of the state’s GDP is attributed to guests that we welcome to our state, and more than 442,000 jobs are related to tourism and hospitality.

Highlights from the Discussion:

Convention Surge: Atlanta is set to host 21 major city-wide conventions in 2024, tying with the record year of 2014. This influx of events signals a robust period ahead for our city’s hospitality sector.
Staffing Challenges: The hospitality industry is currently grappling with staffing shortages. At the GRA, we are actively seeking solutions to address this critical issue and ensure our members can continue to thrive.
World Cup Readiness: With the upcoming World Cup, Atlanta’s hospitality industry is poised and ready to welcome global tourism.
Water Crisis Solutions: Grants are now available to restaurants affected by the recent Atlanta water crisis, providing much-needed support.
Culinary Excellence: Atlanta now boasts five Michelin-starred restaurants and two Green Star establishments, significantly increasing employment interest and showcasing the diversity of our culinary scene.
Looking Ahead: At the GRA, we are hopeful about creating sustainable career opportunities within the hospitality industry and advocating for meaningful premise liability reform in 2025.

Many thanks to the panelists and Ohio River South for hosting our team!

Georgia DOR | Quarterly Sales & Use Tax Rate Updates

Effective July 1, 2024, Georgia Department of Revenue has published the new quarterly sales and use tax rates. Historical, current and upcoming sales and use tax rates changes may be viewed here.

CELEBRATING PROJECT DASH

Celebrating More Than 100 Million Meals Delivered Through Project DASH

Access to affordable, nutritious food is a serious and growing challenge. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest Household Food Security in the United States report, more than 44 million people in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2022. In many cases the problem is not the availability of food, but people’s ability to get it: transportation challenges, disabilities, stigma, and the demands of everyday life make it difficult for many people to access charitable food.

Since 2018, food banks, food pantries, and community organizations have partnered with DoorDash's Project DASH to deliver food and essential items to people experiencing food insecurity. Today, thanks to our partners, we’re proud to celebrate over 6 million deliveries and 100 million meals via Project DASH.

Learn more.

QSR EVOLUTION CONFERENCE & NEXTGEN RESTAURANT SUMMIT

QSR Evolution Conference & NextGen Restaurant Summit

The QSR Evolution Conference will focus on the needs of quick-service restaurant operators where industry leaders will hear and share perspectives on running QSRs of the future. Educational sessions focus on growth and franchising, leadership, technology, digital marketing trends, company culture, drive-thru and the changing consumer.

The NextGen Restaurant Summit is geared toward nextgen and emerging full-service brand operators. Topics covered during educational sessions cover unique restaurant experiences of the future, F&B innovation, technology, restaurant design, menu engineering and labor and employment.

When: September 4-5, 2024

Where: Atlanta Marriott Marquis

Keynote presentations will be provided by:

Burger King
Firehouse Subs
GoTo Foods
Inspire Brands
KFC
Popeyes
Tim Hortons
...and more!

As a partner of the event, we secured a discount for GRA members to attend. Use code GRA10 at checkout to save 10% on your full conference pass which will grant you access to all sessions and included receptions of the event.

FEDERAL UPDATE

DOL Overtime Final Rule: What Restaurant Operators Need to Know Ahead of July 1

The Department of Labor (DOL) has released its final overtime rule, significantly increasing the minimum annual salary threshold determining overtime pay eligibility under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) from $35,568 to $58,656. The rule will gradually come into effect, with an increase to $43,888 on July 1, 2024, and an increase to $58,656 effective January 1, 2025.

Visit our blog for a comprehensive overview of the final rule, who is affected, and for additional resources.

New Action Expands Loan Access for Energy-Reducing Retrofits, Solar Panel Installation

The Small Business Administration has lifted the lending cap for clean energy projects through its 504 Loan Program, which is designed to benefit small and medium businesses. The cap was previously set at $16.5M.

What this means: Restaurant operators interested in projects to reduce energy consumption through a building retrofit or to produce renewable energy will have greater access to capital.

More about the program: The 504 Program has 10-, 20-, and 25-year maturity terms available with an interest rate above the current market rate for 10-year U.S. Treasury issues.

MEET THE EXPERTS

Register Now To Attend GRA's Newest Educational Networking Event - Meet The Experts, Hosted In Partnership with NCR Voyix, Ecolab, Moore Colson, And Sysco

Meet the Experts will feature over a dozen industry experts for an evening of speed coaching and power networking. On Wednesday, August 7, 2024 from 2:00PM to 5:00PM at the NCR Voyix Headquarters, this event offers restaurant and hospitality operators the opportunity to connect one-on-one with some of the biggest restaurateurs in the business, plus experts in HR, public relations, law, accounting, licensing, insurance, and more.

How it works: Operators (restaurant/hospitality owners, managers, and restaurant leadership) can select up to five (5) topics to be paired with during the event for 15-minute sessions. Consider it an ideal opportunity to ask questions, get advice, and exchange business information to keep the conversation going in the future. It's speed coaching and power networking at its finest.

ARE YOU COMPLYING WITH CHILD LABOR LAWS?

Child Labor Law Compliance in the Restaurant Industry

In 2023, there were over 2 million workers between the ages of 16 and 19 in the restaurant industry. As an employer, it is vital to ensure that you are providing a positive and safe work environment for children – the most vulnerable workers in the workplace.

Since 2019 alone, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has seen an 88% increase in offenses related to child labor exploitation. To prevent violations from occurring in the first place, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) recently partnered with the DOL to host an educational webinar - keep reading for the key takeaways, plus access additional resources.

2024 ONLINE ORDERING TRENDS REPORT

Restaurant & Alcohol Online Ordering Trends

Discover the latest consumer trends in delivery, pickup, and online ordering in DoorDash’s 2024 Restaurant and Alcohol Online Ordering Trends Report. In this report, you’ll find:

Restaurant and alcohol ordering preferences from a survey of 1,500+ US consumers.
Breakdowns of consumer dining habits by gender and generation.
DoorDash data on delivery and pickup ordering, including top menu items and times of day.
Tactical advice from real-world restaurant operators.

Download the full report.

NRAEF 2023 IMPACT REPORT

NRAEF 2023 Impact Report

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has published their 2023 Impact Report, which includes industry statistics, highlights from the past year, and a look at what's to come.

Click here to view the full report.

DEADLINE EXTENDED - FILE YOUR CLAIM TODAY!

Restaurant Operators May be Eligible Settlement Funds

The Payment Card Settlement is the biggest antitrust class-action settlement in history and sets aside about $6B for U.S. merchants who paid artificially inflated Visa and Mastercard interchange fees. The deadline to submit a claim as part of the Payment Card Settlement has been extended to August 30, 2024.

Key takeaway: If your restaurant accepted Visa and/or Mastercard at any time between Jan. 1, 2004, to Jan. 25, 2019, you may be entitled to a share of this $6B class-action settlement. Visit www.paymentcardsettlement.com to submit a claim before the updated deadline, Aug. 30, 2024.

Submitting a claim is easy: The claim process was designed to take only 5 to 15 minutes. The portal should even autofill most information when submitting the individual’s “Claimant ID” and “Control Number” found in the claim letter or by submitting the business’s Tax ID, if the claim letter is not available.

Learn more: Click here to watch a recording of a webinar the Association and the Restaurant Law Center hosted on the settlement. Register for the webinar to access the recording.

SALMONELLA OUTBREAK LINKED TO CUCUMBERS

CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Cucumbers

Fresh Start Produce Sales Inc. has recalled whole cucumbers. Cucumbers were sold in bulk in 24- and 32-count boxes directly to retail distribution centers, wholesalers, and food service distributors in 14 states, but these sellers may have shipped to additional states or re-packaged them for stores.

Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Shipped from May 17 to May 21.
Grown in Florida.

This recall does not include English cucumbers or mini cucumbers. Recalled cucumbers should no longer be in stores.

LAST CHANCE TO NOMINATE A RESTAURANT LEADER

Nominate a Stellar Restaurateur!

One of the key roles of the National Restaurant Association’s Educational Foundation is to help raise awareness of the positive impact restaurants have in their communities and the role the industry plays in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Nominations are now open for the Restaurants Advance Leadership Awards, which support this mission. The nomination categories are:

Inclusion Innovator Award
Community Champion Award
My Journey Award
Ambassador of Hospitality Award

Category descriptions, nomination guidelines and award FAQs can be found here. Nominations, submitted through the NRAEF platform in the link, are due by July 5.

PREPARE YOUR RESTAURANT FOR HURRICANE SEASON

National Hurricane Preparedness | June 1 - November 30, 2024

Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1 and runs through November 30. The Georgia Restaurant Association strongly encourages restaurant owners and operators to stay informed and be prepared as seasons are increasingly uncertain. Learn more.

Additional resources:

E-VERIFY UPDATE

E-Verify | NEW Login URL Reminder

USCIS recently announced that effective June 25, 2024, all E-Verify users must use the new URL everify.uscis.gov to log-in to their accounts. The prior URL (e-verify.uscis.gov/) will result in an error message. USCIS also reminds users to update any internal documents/materials to reflect the change.

SAVE ON ELECTRIC RATES

Save on Electric Rates

The Georgia Restaurant Association fought hard for restaurants to have access to a rate that was previously only available to large, multi-unit chains. If you are a restaurant that uses Georgia Power, identifies as 722 in NAICS, and meet the actual peak demand requirement of not less than 30 kW, then you should reach out and ask about switching to the TOU-FD. We have heard testimonies from independent restaurants from across the state reporting an average savings of 10%-15% on their power bill.

You may contact Georgia Power’s Business Solutions Center directly at 1-888-655-5888. If you have any questions, you can contact us and we are happy to assist to the best of our ability or connect you with a trusted partner.