IRA Issues Relief Requests to Governor Pritzker for Restaurant and Hospitality Industry

Today, the IRA issued a letter to Governor J.B. Pritzker outlining a list of urgent regulatory and legislative measures needed by the restaurant and hospitality industry of Illinois during the COVID-19 crisis.

The following requests are included:

  • Taxes and Fees
  • Delay sales tax remittance for all restaurants and bars
  • Assist businesses with regulatory relief regarding unemployment claims by freezing unemployment insurance rates in Illinois
  • Defer property, estimated income, corporate income, and franchise taxes
  • Quickly refund overpayment of estimated taxes

  • Direct Aid to Restaurants and Employees
  • Create tax credits with expedited processing for retaining employees during the COVID-19 crisis
  • Assist with business interruption insurance

  • Commercial Payment Relief
  • Prohibit landlords from evicting or foreclosing restaurants for non-payment of rent or mortgages during the COVID-19 crisis

  • Regulatory Relief
  • Suspend the Illinois Liquor Control Commission (ILCC) retailer delinquency list for non-payment of liquor invoices.
  • Remove any restrictions on state liquor license renewals for 90-120 days.
  • Allow restaurants with valid liquor licenses to sell cocktails/mixed drinks for off-premise consumption and for delivery to customers
  • Suspend the implementation of the state’s next minimum wage increase until July 1, 2021
  • Quickly enact regulatory changes to enable restaurants to function as temporary grocery stores

  • Delivery Regulations 
  • Cap commission fees on restaurants from third party delivery services

These actions will not eliminate the impact of the crisis, but they will be important first steps on the road to recovery. The IRA will continue to work for all measures of relief for restaurants at the local, state, and federal levels.

Click here  to read the letter.
PPP Funding and Improvement Push Continues
The IRA continues to urge Congress to make necessary improvements to the loan and relief programs created in the CARES Act.

We are collaborating with the National Restaurant Association, Independent Restaurant Coalition, and state restaurant association partners to lobby Congress on much-needed improvements to the loan and relief programs created in the CARES Act.

Take one minute to help amplify our efforts and  email your Representatives and Senators   and tell them: 

  • You support bipartisan efforts to provide additional funding.
  • You support Congress taking action to make loan terms and other requirements flexible to reflect the unique operational and business model of restaurants.

Click here  to send a message to Congress.
Presentation: HR Challenges for Restaurants on FFCRA, Staffing for Loan Forgiveness, and More

Thank you to our presenters Dave Andrea, John Barsella, and Michael Kruker of Plante Moran, as well as Rob Bernstein of Laner Muchin for joining the today's webinar to review common HR challenges for restaurants during the COVID-19 crisis.

Topics included paid sick leave and FMLA requirements through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA, how to ensure Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans are forgiven, and more.

Click here to download the presentation. The webinar recording will be available early next week.
Congresswoman Velasquez Joins IRA to Calls for More Equity in PPP Program

This week, U.S. Representative Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee, called for programs to do more for underserved communities.

Velázquez has joined forces with the IRA, American Business Immigration Coalition (ABIC), National Restaurant Association, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association, and the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) to speak out on access issues with the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to marginalized communities—just a day before the SBA announced that the program has run out of funds.

In a webcast , they urged for a more equitable implementation of the program featuring increased investment to vulnerable small businesses. Such additional dollars will be even more critical since the SBA had to stop accepting loan applications once the funds were exhausted.

Martin Eakes, president and CEO Self Help Credit Union , also joined the webcast to address the PPP’s emerging issues. “As the one of the largest CDFIs [Community Development Financial Institutions] in the country, our mission is to create and protect economic opportunity for all. Businesses of color are the backbone of the American economy, and many of them rely on CDFIs and other local, community banks to conduct their financial needs,” said Eakes.
Please  visit our website  for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business - updated as of 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 17.