Governor Pritzker Announces Targeted Approach to COVID-19 Cases, Mayor Lightfoot Warns Chicago "On the Precipice"
Yesterday, Governor Pritzker laid out a targeted approach to address serious spikes in COVID-19 cases, segmenting the state into 11 zones to more tightly aim efforts to curb the disease’s spread without resorting to widespread restrictions and shutdowns.
Click here
to read the announcement.
Click here
to review the state's Actions to Combat a Resurgence of COVID-19.
Governor Pritzker and his administration also echoed concerns voiced earlier in the day by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and city officials over the increasing number of positive test results among younger people, which could lead to reimposing bans on bars, indoor dining and youth sports activities.
In the city of Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot cited an increase in COVID-19 cases among people age 18-29 in sounding a stern warning that the city is “on the precipice” and may soon need to roll back parts of the its reopening.
|
|
Take Action - Tell Congress to Pass the Blueprint for Revival
Later this month, Congress will consider their final coronavirus response bill for 2020. From the beginning of this pandemic, the IRA and National Restaurant Association have
led the charge
for a comprehensive solution for our industry. We have made steady progress, but Congress needs to do much more for the nation’s second-largest private-sector employer.
By the thousands, you responded to our survey identifying the priorities you need for this industry. By a 50/50 tie vote, you identified a $120 billion recovery fund and a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funding as the top goal we should pursue in our advocacy agenda. We are strongly supporting the
RESTAURANTS Act - a $120 billion restaurant recovery fund - proposed by
Senators Wicker and Sinema
in the Senate.
We heard you – and we are proud to release our new
Blueprint for Revival
for the industry.
It represents a strong, far-reaching plan for how Congress can advance restaurants in every city and town in this country.
The Blueprint for Revival includes the following requests for relief:
- Create a Restaurant Recovery Fund for structured relief to help restaurants get the liquidity they need, adapt, rehire and eventually reopen. This includes passage of the RESTAURANTS Act proposed by Senators Wicker and Sinema in the Senate.
- Build on the success of PPP by enacting a second round of application eligibility to initial eight-week loan recipients and make other changes to help extend and sustain this successful program.
- Make PPP loans tax deductible so that small businesses can deduct eligible expenses paid with a forgiven PPP loan, and eliminate the substantial tax liability many face for taking these loans in the first place.
- Establish a long-term loan program beyond PPP so restaurants can rehire, retrain and retain valued employees by providing up to six-months of operating costs and additional support.
- Expand the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) to help restaurants get support after a PPP loan has run out.
- Improve Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) by replenishing funding for EIDLs and advance grants to support businesses with major revenue reductions due to COVID-19.
- Provide customer and employee wellness tax credits to help with significant capital investments for employee and guest safety.
- Address Business Interruption insurance claims for small businesses with a federal backstop to cover losses due to a pandemic and so that insurance remains available and affordable.
- Provide Liability Protection for American Businesses
- Prioritize testing + vaccine distribution for food supply chain employees (after health care, first responders and vulnerable populations) to help the entire food and restaurant industry continue growing, selling and serving healthy food even in times of crisis.
- Enact payroll tax relief for essential employees to help keep frontline workers in vital sectors on the job and serving the public.
- Provide support for restaurants feeding vulnerable populations by providing incentives and payment when restaurants partner with government and nonprofits to prepare meals for seniors, children and other vulnerable populations.
- Broaden access to restaurant meals for low-income Americans by creating state-run programs that increase food access-points during times of crisis and by expanding the population of people eligible for restaurant meal service via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Restaurants have lost more revenue and jobs
than any other industry
, but there are a lot of competing interests before Congress. Illinois' Congressional leaders need to hear your voice directly.
Tell Congress to support restaurants and employees. Tell Congress to pass the Blueprint for Restaurant Revival.
We have given Congress a roadmap for action – that calls for either enacting our Restaurant Recovery Fund or implement a targeted second-round of PPP for our industry – as well as other asks that will allow us to keep our doors open for the long haul, and serve the communities we call home. We need your support to bring this effort over the finish line.
Please
take one minute
to share your story and lend your voice to this campaign. Every voice counts.
|
|
Keep Spreading the Word - Covered Faces Keep Open Places
|
|
Please take one minute to share "Covered Faces Keep Open Places" on your personal and business social media channels.
We are seeing cities and states around the country slow down or shut down their reopening plans. To help ensure this does not happen in Illinois, we need you to share a message on your social media channels to encourage restaurateurs and diners to follow the public health guidelines, be safe, and keep Illinois open.
Post the above graphic - in
English
or
Spanish
- to your Instagram and/or Facebook pages.
Recording/Posting Instructions
- Post the above graphic - in English or Spanish - to Instagram and/or Facebook, and tag the Illinois Restaurant Association (@illinoisrestaurants) in your post.
- Utilize the below suggested copy and feel free to adjust to suit your tone/style!
- Tag 2-3 of your colleagues in the restaurant/hospitality industry in your post.
- Include the hashtag #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces in your post
Sample Post Language
"We cannot allow our restaurants and bars to slide backwards, as we’ve seen happen in other states. Let’s all stay safe and keep our businesses open! I urge fellow operators and restaurant-goers to strictly follow local and state public safety guidelines. Wear your mask, keep social distancing, follow occupancy rules and ensure compliance. The Illinois Restaurant Promise can be found at
illinoisrestaurants.org
. Follow the guidelines, and let’s keep our restaurants and bars moving forward. We are in this together! #CoveredFacesKeepOpenPlaces @illinoisrestaurants @Tag2 @Tag3 @Tag3"
|
|
Webinar on Practical Solutions for Payments, Menus, and More
|
|
Join the IRA and panelists from SpotMenus by BrandMuscle, Modjoul, and Heartland on
Thursday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar providing practical ways for operators to meet these challenges regarding offering menus to guests, providing contactless payment, screening employees, and more. Get tips, ideas, and new solutions to reopen safely and successfully.
This webinar is provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative.
**Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.**
|
|
License Committee Advances Alderman Tunney Ordinance to Extend Business Licenses for Three Months
Earlier today, the Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted to approve a substitute ordinance introduced by former IRA Chairman Alderman Tom Tunney (44th) that would create a three month extension for Chicago business licenses.
The IRA is fully supportive of this ordinance, and we thank Alderman Tunney's for his efforts to support Chicago's business community.
Click here
to read the ordinance. The ordinance now heads to the full City Council for consideration.
|
|
Two Minute Survey - Tell Us Which Elected Officials You Know
As we continue to advocate on behalf of the industry during COVID-19, the IRA and National Restaurant Association are working to identify existing and new relationships our members have with local, state, and federal elected officials.
The results will allow us to get a comprehensive sense of which restaurant operators have relationships with lawmakers across the state.
|
|
Please
visit our website
for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 4:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 16.
|
|
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
