WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
IRA Advocating for Expanded Indoor Dining Occupancy
The IRA continues to advocate around the clock for expanded indoor dining in the city of Chicago while working to protect current indoor dining levels across Illinois from further mitigation.

We're making it clear in all conversations with elected officials and media outlets that outdoor dining is a helpful complement to main indoor operations, but it will not sustain restaurants through the next six months.

Read more:

Record a Video to Tell Your Restaurant Story
The IRA is working with the National Restaurant Association to collect personal stories from our members about the impact of COVID-19 on your business.
 
Throughout this crisis, restaurants continue to face unprecedented challenges. As a result, many restaurants have had to close their doors for good while others are fighting to stay afloat. More must be done for lawmakers to visualize the struggles restaurants face on a daily and long-term basis.
 
Click here for directions on how to record and submit your story. Tell Congress that restaurants need relief now – and every day they wait more restaurants will close.
Republicans Release Targeted COVID Relief Bill 
 
As negotiations stall on a broad bipartisan COVID package, Senate Republicans are introducing targeted legislation that – while short of what either side prefers – would provide needed relief. Leader McConnell plans to hold a procedural vote this week to consider the bill. Democrats are expected to filibuster the motion to proceed to the legislation.

At this time, it is unlikely that a deal on a broad relief package will be reached at the federal level.
 
Some key provisions in the package include:

Liability Protection
 
As called for in our Blueprint, the bill includes temporary, targeted liability protections for employers, who are making reasonable efforts to follow public health guidelines, against personal injury claims related to actual or alleged exposure to COVID-19, with exceptions for bad actors engaged in gross negligence or willful misconduct.
 
Payment Protection Program
 
A critical pillar of the bill would provide $257.8 billion to allow entities that satisfy criteria to apply for a second PPP loan of up to $2 million. This has been a longstanding priority for our industry.
 
Among other criteria, to participate, businesses must have had at least a 35 percent reduction in gross receipts in the first or second quarter of 2020 relative to the same 2019 quarter. Previous versions of the legislation set the threshold at 50%. We advocated to lower the threshold, so more restaurants can participate.
 
Certain 501(c)(6) organizations could qualify for a PPP loan, if they satisfy requirements. Specifically, they must have 150 or fewer employees; not receive more than 10 percent of receipts from lobbying; and the lobbying activities of the organization do not comprise more than 10 percent of the total activities of the organization. The 501(c)(6) addition is critical for state restaurant associations that continue to provide invaluable assistance to restaurants throughout this crisis.
 
Unemployment Compensation
 
The legislation would provide $300 per week in enhanced unemployment benefits.
 
Additional Appropriations
 
The bill would provide $16 billion for testing and contact tracing; $31 billion for vaccine and therapeutic development and distribution; $20 billion for farmers; and $500 million to fisheries.
Tomorrow Morning - Virtual Town Hall with Rep. Quigley
Join the IRA and Illinois Business Immigration Coalition tomorrow, Thursday, September 10 at 10:00 a.m. for a live virtual town hall with Congressman Mike Quigley (IL-5). Topics will include the latest federal updates on the negotiations on the next stimulus package, guidance on the PPP loan forgiveness process for Illinois small businesses and nonprofits from experts, and more.

Click here to register.
Dining Out for Life - Support Chicagoans Impacted by HIV
TPAN's Dining Out For Life will take place Thursday, September 24. Chicagoans and visitors can dine in, order takeout or delivery from their favorite restaurants and donate to directly to TPAN to support their mission to serve people affected by HIV.

This year, TPAN is working to uplift the restaurant industry, so personal gifts to TPAN are especially important. Dozens of participating restaurants across Chicago will support TPAN, and thousands of dining patrons will helps serve Chicagoans affected by HIV.

Click here to learn more and get involved.
Please visit our website for the latest COVID-19 updates, in addition to the above resources and information for your business. Updated as of 7:15 p.m. on Wednesday, September 9.
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