GRA Weekly

August 31, 2023

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Moore Colson

DINING WITH GRATITUDE

Dining with Gratitude This October

Calling all Georgia restaurants and food service establishments, this October help Giving Kitchen raise critical funds and vital awareness by participating in Dining With Gratitude. The ask from GK is simple: 1) pledge at least $1,000 for food service workers in crisis through a direct donation or percentage of sales, 2) tell your staff about Giving Kitchen at lineup 3) in October, share with your customers you’re stepping up to support food services workers in crisis and invite them to dine with gratitude - they will send you a package for promotion kit in September. Register and find more details here.

GRA ADVOCACY UPDATE

ICYMI: City of Atlanta Beer and Wine To-Go Updated Administrative Order

Following the lapse of the Mayor’s temporary 2020 Administrative Order, it is now illegal for restaurants to sell beer and wine with to-go and curbside pick-up orders in the City of Atlanta. We advise all City of Atlanta restaurants who are currently offering this service to cease these sales immediately as to avoid any potential violations. We are working with Mayor Dickens’ Office to determine how the city will proceed with future allowances. Please contact the Georgia Restaurant Association for any questions or concerns regarding this matter.

GRA Attends Senate Workforce Study Committee in West Point

Last week, the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce hosted its third meeting at the Kia Assembly Plant in West Point, GA. In attendance, GRA President & CEO Karen Bremer, Vice President of Government Affairs Scott Bierman, and Local Advocacy Coordinator, Dedan McFadden, represented the restaurant industry. The committee heard testimony from Kia, Construction Ready, the Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Georgia Department of Administrative Services, and representatives from the Association of County Commissioners and the Georgia Municipal Association. The next meeting will be held at the SK Innovation plant in Commerce, GA on September 19th. To learn more about the study committee or watch the hearing click here.

ATLANTA WORKS CONFERENCE

Atlanta Works Conference

SHRM-Atlanta is the professional home for HR practitioners, but we realize that there are people that manage employees daily who may have no HR background, education, or training, such as start-ups and entrepreneurs.

The Atlanta Works Conference will support people managers in ensuring they understand what’s needed to hire, train, pay, schedule, and generally manage their employees. The conference will take place at Georgia Tech on October 10.

GRA and SHRM-Atlanta are partnering on presenting the Atlanta Works Conference. GRA members receive a $25 discount on the hospitality/restaurant track when using promo code GRA-ATLANTAWORKS23 at checkout. To register or to find out more about the Atlanta Works Conference, click here.

Atlanta Works Conference

October 10 | Georgia Tech

THE PREMIER ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR GEORGIA RESTAURANTS

SERVSAFE FOOD SAFETY MONTH

To kick off National Food Safety Month, we’re exploring the role that time and temperature play in food, and why they’re such crucial factors when it comes to keeping your food safe and your guests happy.

Downloadable Resources:

GRANT OPPORTUNITY

NAACP and Leslie's Certification Boost Grant

Under this program, $5,000 grants will be awarded to deserving entrepreneurs to support small businesses in rural and urban communities across five states and companies led by people of color, women, and people with disabilities, or businesses located in Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones), focusing on businesses in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas — state communities Leslie's serves and where the retailer has a strong store and operational presence in the consulting and/or food services industry. Apply now.

DEADLINE: 9/8/23

FEDERAL UPDATES

Credit Card Swipe Fees Update

The nation’s two largest credit card companies recently announced they will increase the swipe fees paid by restaurants and other businesses by a whopping $502 million. The increases are expected to occur in October 2023 and April 2024. American restaurants already pay the highest swipe fees of any country in the world. If there was ever a sign that Congress needs to act, this is proof positive. We and the National Restaurant Association are fighting for passage of the Credit Card Competition Act – bipartisan, common-sense legislation to inject competition in the swipe fee industry. Learn more and add your voice here.

E-Verify® | Employers may review documents remotely

As of August 1, 2023, employers currently enrolled and in good standing with Federal program E-Verify® may now remotely verify new employee I-9 Form documents. Learn more about these alternative procedures. E-Verify will also soon offer 30-minute training sessions on these alternative procedures. More information forthcoming.

Relevant links:

Official published notices on July 25, 2023: Federal Register-88 FR 47749, Federal Register-88 FR 47990
Enroll in E-Verify

LAUNCH YOUR BRAND WITH FULL COURSE

Full Course's LAUNCH Program Bridges the Learning Gap for Future Restaurateurs

Atlanta-based Full Course, the restaurant industry’s first and only incubator, accelerator and investor in early-stage food brands, offers a groundbreaking 15-week training initiative, LAUNCH. Created to empower aspiring restaurant owners and operators, LAUNCH provides comprehensive virtual training, equipping participants with essential skills to open and operate a restaurant. The program covers refining concepts, business setup, design, marketing, and more, ensuring a seamless path from idea to restaurant opening.Full Course's commitment to accessibility is reflected through partial scholarships and a unique cohort-based learning model. Early-bird pricing is available until Sept. 20, 2023. Learn more at fullcourse.com.

IN MEMORY

In Memory of Chef Peter Vossenberg

We are saddened by the sudden news of longtime GRA, ACF, and Georgia Grown Chef Peter Vossenberg, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC, chef/instructor at Helms College in Augusta, Georgia and president of the ACF Augusta Chapter passing away unexpectedly on Aug. 28. Follow for more details.

RESTAURANT LEGAL SUMMIT

7th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit

Early Bird Registration Now Open! October 25-27, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona, for our 7th Annual Restaurant Legal Summit and be a part of the restaurant industry's premier conference for chief legal officers, attorneys, and human resource professionals! In addition to connecting with senior representatives from some of the industry's most successful brands, summit attendees will learn about current trends and best practices from legal experts at some of the nation's top law firms.