Senate Passes PPP Fix Bill, President Will Sign Soon
In a bright moment during an extremely difficult week for our country, we are pleased to announce that Congress has finally fixed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
The IRA and National Restaurant Association were among the first
to call for fixes to PPP
to preserve our imperiled industry. With your help and the strength of our collective voices, Congress has finally acted. The Senate just passed the
Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act
, legislation that would extend deadlines and relax restrictions on how loans are used. The president is expected to sign the bill very soon.
The PPP has been fixed for many, but our industry faces ongoing challenges and must stay engaged in Washington. We have advanced a
number of initiatives
, and we will seek your input on how policymakers can provide continued relief to restaurants in these uncertain times.
Today’s action in Congress is a big win, and we cannot thank you enough for answering the call to action.
Click here
to read more from CNN.
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Are You Reopening? Tell Us About Your Plans
The Illinois Restaurant Association is currently surveying restaurants around the state to determine the status of reopening outdoor dining during Phase III of Restore Illinois.
Please take two minutes to complete our survey to share your current plans and any challenges you are facing.
Click here
to review the state of Illinois Phase III outd
oor dining guidance. Operators must also look to their local municipalities and health departments for further guidance. The city of Chicago's outdoor dining reopening guidance can be found
here
.
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City of Chicago Outdoor Dining Begins Today, 9:00 p.m. Curfew Still in Effect, Expanded Outdoor Dining Permit Applications Available
As of Wednesday, June 3, outdoor dining at restaurants is permitted to begin in the city of Chicago.
Last night, two health orders that were issued last night. The
first order
implements the city's reopening plan; the
second order
extends the hours that restaurants may sell liquor until 11:00 p.m.
Please note that both orders are still subject to the ongoing curfew, meaning that non-essential businesses and restaurants may not stay open past 9:00 p.m. until the curfew is lifted.
Restaurants and coffee shops are permitted to open for outdoor dining only with specific safety guidelines.
Click here
to review the FAQ on outdoor dining and sidewalk cafes.
Click here
to download the full Phase III outdoor dining guidelines for restaurants.
Earlier this week, the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events released a new
Expanded Outdoor Dining
permit application created specifically for temporary Phase 3 (Cautiously Reopen) outdoor dining.
Click here
to learn more.
Click here
to review the FAQ on the Expanded Outdoor Dining permit.
Read more:
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Cocktails to Go, Suspended Retailer Delinquency List Legislation Signed into Law by Governor Pritzker
Yesterday, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a bill into law that allows restaurants and bars to sell cocktails/mixed drinks to go in the state of Illinois.
Local municipalities may prohibit or further restrict the sales and delivery of “to go” mixed drinks/cocktails.
Licensed retailers should contact the local liquor control commissioner prior to engaging the sales and delivery of “to go” mixed drinks/cocktails to ensure compliance with local laws. The city of Chicago is expected to take legislative action to approve cocktails to go at the city level at the next City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 17.
The IRA fully supports this legislation, and we commend Governor Pritzker and General Assembly for passing this pragmatic legislation that will benefit the hospitality industry across the state. We especially thank Sen. Sara Feigenholtz, Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, Rep. Michael Zalewski, Rep. Ann Williams, and Rep. Kelly Cassidy for their advocacy on this issue.
This legislation is the result of a groundswell of support generated by the
Cocktails
for Hope
campaign founded by IRA member Julia Momose of
Kumiko
, as well as hundreds of IRA members that pushed for this legislative change.
Additionally, the legislation provides that:
- All state liquor licenses are automatically extended through December 31, 2020.
- No renewal fees or late fees will be charged until December 31, 2020 (Renewal fees will be charged if a licensee renews before December 31, 2020.)
- Retail licensees shall not be deemed to be delinquent in payment until 30 days after the date on which the region in which the retail licensee is located enters Phase 4 of the Governor's Restore Illinois Plan (different state regions may enter Phase 4 at different times.)
The Illinois Liquor Control Commission has issued updated FAQs and guides on the below topics:
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IRA Reopening Services and Supply Resources Guide - Discounts for IRA Members Available
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The IRA has launched a
premier
resource base
of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and reopening services for restaurants, including: hand sanitizer, face coverings, gloves, cleaning and sanitizing supplies, plexiglass, menus, floor markers, signs, and more.
Click here
to let us know if you would like to join the IRA’s reopening resource page and offer PPE materials and equipment to restaurants and bars throughout Illinois. Companies must be current IRA Associate members in order to be featured.
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Webinar Tomorrow - Safety Considerations for Scaling UP Restaurant Operations
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Join the IRA a
nd the University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN)
Thursday, June 4 at 10:00 a.m.
(Central) for the second part of our Scaling UP webinar series
focusing on safety considerations. This webinar will provide guidance on disinfecting and approaches for providing an exceptional customer experience under new operational practices.
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Please
visit our website
for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3.
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