GRA Weekly

March 10, 2022

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

RRF UPDATE

As you have likely heard, Congress this week finally reached a bipartisan agreement on their annual spending bill. The agreement is silent on replenishing the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), and no new funds will be directed to complete the mission and fund the 177,000 applications still pending.

The National Restaurant Association called this failure a “gut punch” to our industry and we couldn’t agree more. We are waiting for the dust to settle in Washington and to identify if there are other avenues to replenish this sorely-needed program. But this decision from Congress is a huge blow to our efforts and the path forward is very uncertain. Restaurants are going to close as a result of inaction, and tens of thousands of you have answered our call every time we’ve asked you to engage in this fight.

From the start of this pandemic, the Georgia Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association have pursued an “all-of-the-above” strategy for the industry, diving into every issue at the federal, state, and local level that could help or hurt us. From cocktails-to-go to worker shortages, we’ve had a seat at the table for every major policy debate underway. That will not change.

You’ll be hearing more from us and the National Restaurant Association on the outlook for RRF, but in the meantime there’s a host of other issues we need to be focused on. We’re not stopping, and hope you won’t either.

-Karen + GRA Team

CONGRATULATIONS, REGYNALD WASHINGTON

The Elliot Group announces 2022 honorees for “Legends & Leaders” awards

Celebrating innovation, commitment, and “Courageous Behavior,” The Elliot Awards will highlight successful entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and founders at a gala event in June.

Regynald Washington, president and CEO, RGW Enterprises

The Impact Award, presented by The Elliot Leadership Institute, recognizes a leader who has focused selflessly on giving back and serving future generations as an advocate and advisor. Honorees have built a personal and professional legacy of providing inclusive opportunities to advance others and delivering impactful guidance to help people, communities, industries, and the world.

Throughout a long and distinguished career with leadership positions at Paradies Lagardère and Walt Disney Company, Washington never lost sight of paying it forward via philanthropy, education, and board service. Over decades of service to students, emerging leaders, and the broad hospitality industry, he has gifted $1 million for an endowment and scholarships at Georgia State University’s Hospitality School, was named a Conti Lifetime Professor at the School of Hospitality Management at The Pennsylvania State University, served as chairman of the National Restaurant Association and in numerous roles at the Georgia Restaurant Association, and has used his industry visibility to always support others and encourage the practice of leadership through dignity and generosity. Read the full article.

STATE OF THE PLATE

Want to serve Dogs on patios? Want to open a food truck? Get updates on these pieces of legislation and more in this weeks legislative update with President + CEO Karen Bremer

Bills Discussed: HB 304, HB 1376, and HB 1443
Find your legislator here.
Watch Now.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

CELEBRATING WOMXN

Let's Talk Womxn & Celebrate - Atlanta

This week, the GRA proudly sponsored the Let’s Talk & Celebrate! dinner and annual celebration of International Womxn’s Day on March 7. The event was co-hosted by Deborah Van Trece, Rosa Thurnher, and Anne Quatrano. GRA President + CEO Karen Bremer also moderated an amazing panel of Atlanta womxn-owned restaurants and businesses discussing where they are now post-COVID and how they are moving forward. Former GRA Board member Archna Becker also participated as one of the event's Tastemakers. Learn more.

GEORGIA OYSTER SURVEY

We want to know your thoughts about oyster farming and oyster sales in Georgia! The University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government is surveying individuals involved in Georgia’s food service industry to understand how Georgia’s new oyster farming industry may benefit the local food service industry.

Visit survey.uga.edu/Oyster to take the survey.

This survey will take up to 15 minutes to complete. Your survey responses are anonymous and will not be available to anyone outside the Carl Vinson Institute of Government. Survey results will be presented as summaries so that individual responses will not be identified. We encourage you to share this survey with other food service industry professionals you know. Your input can help inform the future of oyster farming and sales in Georgia.

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

Association Answers FAQs on ERTC

Director of Healthcare and Tax Policy Aaron Frazier led a Facebook Live presentation today answering some of the most commonly asked questions on ERTC particularly in the areas of refund delays, tipped wages, and program reinstatement. View the recording here.

New Packaging Sustainability Tool

A free resource is now available to compare different types of foodservice packaging. The Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard is an online resource that measures commonly used foodware and food packaging products with a single yardstick to offer companies the first-ever free and comprehensive tool for making sustainable purchasing decisions.

IMPROVING EMPLOYEE RETENTION RATE

Improving Employee Retention Rate

The restaurant industry is one where turnover is inevitable, and it can be difficult to fill open positions. Taking every measure possible to keep employees happy in the workplace is more important than ever. By keeping your team engaged, you are not only benefiting your employee retention rate but also are increasing the productivity and profitability of your business.

In a recent Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary from the U.S. Department of Labor, 5.6% of restaurant workers quit their jobs in April 2021... Read more.