GRA Weekly

August 25, 2022

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

VOTE TODAY!

'Georgia On My Mind' | People's Choice Awards | Vote Today!

Vote for your favorite restaurants, beverages and dining experiences that keep Georgia on your mind in our new People’s Choice Awards. Voting closes August 31, and winners will be honored at the GRACE Awards Gala September 27.

Click here to vote today!

GRACE US WITH YOUR PRESENCE!

GRACE us with Your Presence!

Our 14th Annual GRACE Awards gala is an event you do not want to miss! Join us for an evening filled with amazing food, refreshing drinks and mingling with the industry's finest. Interested in sponsorship opportunities, please contact Sarah Thorson.

September 27 | Georgia Aquarium

RESTAURANT LEGAL SUMMIT

Early bird registration open for Restaurant Legal Summit

Registration is open for the 6th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit, Wed., Oct. 26–Fri., Oct. 28, 2022, at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Keynote addresses will touch on recent developments, decisions, and enforcement priorities at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and will be led by The Honorable Marvin Kaplan, NLRB member, and The Honorable Jennifer Abruzzo, general counsel (invited). Session topics cover artificial intelligence, food safety laws, employee relations, wage/hour regulations, labor policies, and ethics.

Attendees located in Georgia also receive a special registration discount. Contact Katie Jones, GRA Director of Administration, for information.

2022 DEI SURVEY REPORT

2022 DEI Survey Report

There’s a gap between how hospitality enterprises view their diversity and inclusion policies and how their employees actually experience them. This new diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) report measures the awareness and perceived effectiveness of DEI practices among employers and employees in the restaurant industry.

This research, conducted in collaboration between the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF), the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), and Cornell University Nolan School of Hotel Administration, measured the DEI environment in the restaurant and foodservice industry to understand how DEI strategies impact foodservice workers’ job satisfaction.

This report reinforces the critical importance of effective DEI policies in driving employee engagement and retention in the restaurant industry.

Download this free report today.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

What You Missed: Georgia Senate Study Committee on Food Delivery Apps

On August 23rd, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) Advocacy team and Georgia restaurateurs testified at the first meeting for a Senate Study Committee on Third-Party Delivery Apps. The study committee was established after Senate Resolution (SR) 428 was passed during the 2022 Legislative Session. A full recording of the meeting can be found here. Read Full Recap here.

Savannah Kitchen Cabinet Meeting

The Georgia Restaurant Association wants to thank Congressman Buddy Carter for meeting with a group of our restaurateurs to discuss important industry issues yesterday. If you would like to have a meeting between your Congressperson and local restaurateurs, please reach out to Daniel New, Director of Advocacy.

GA STATE INCOME TAX UPDATE

Alert: Georgia Pass-Through Entities Now Allowed to Deduct State Income Tax at the Entity Level

Last year, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed into law H.B. 149, which allows pass-through entities in Georgia to pay state income taxes at the entity level on behalf of its owners and claim a full deduction on their federal income tax return. This election will be available beginning with the 2022 tax year.

Read more for details on how these regulations may impact Georgia restaurant owners.

FEDERAL UPDATES

Senators push SBA to release remaining RRF money

More than 70 members of Congress called on the SBA this month to release remaining money in the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. Led by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, the group sought priority attention for restaurants that were approved but never received RRF awards.

What this means for restaurants: Although the SBA has not released specific distribution plans for the remaining funds, it’s possible that restaurants could soon get relief from the popular pandemic program. Last month, the Association urged SBA Administrator Guzman to disburse all remaining funds in a fair and timely manner.

Repaying pandemic loans hard on restaurants

Only 23% of operators who have not begun to repay Paycheck Protection Program or Economic Injury Disaster Loans (COVID-EIDL) say they’ll be able to make principal and interest payments, according to new Association survey findings. Another 46% expect to be able to pay the principal, but not 30 months of accrued interest.

What this means for restaurants: Loan repayment is just one factor in the restaurant industry’s weakening business conditions. The Association’s new survey also finds that soaring food, labor, and operating costs are forcing operators to cut hours, change their menus, postpone expansions, and reduce 3rd-party delivery.

Treasury establishes commercial EV tax credit

The Department of Treasury will establish tax credits for commercial clean (electric) vehicles (section 45W) as the Inflation Reduction Act provides $3.6B for the purchase of qualified commercial clean vehicles. Consumers may be eligible for a tax credit for used or previously owned cars, and businesses may be eligible for a new commercial clean vehicle credit. Eligible vehicle owners could receive up to $7,500.

What this means for restaurants: Restaurants could qualify for a new tax credit effective January 2023 if the business purchases a new commercial clean vehicle. This provision of the Inflation Reduction Act could help restaurants expand delivery services and make supply chain investments.