Lollapalooza begins today! We are pleased to welcome this festival and all the benefits it brings to Chicago's hospitality industry. | |
COUNTDOWN TO THE ANNUAL GOLF CLASSIC | | | | |
IRA Endorses the Dignity Act
The Illinois Restaurant Association is proud to announce that we have officially endorsed the Dignity Act. This bipartisan legislation does the following:
- Protects Dreamers with a pathway to permanent residency
- Gives long-term workers on TPS and other temporary programs a route to legal status
- Modernizes E-Verify with common-sense safe harbor protections for employers who play by the rules
Contact your members of Congress today and urge them to support the Dignity Act.
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Sales Tax Increase on August 1
Beginning August 1, consumers and businesses in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties will be subject to a 0.25% Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA) tax increase. This tax, formerly known as the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) tax, will rise to 1.25% in Cook County and 1.00% in DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties. Be sure to update your cash register or software so you are collecting the correct rate starting August 1, 2026. If you use software to prepare your forms, check with your vendor for updates.
Click here for more information on the NITA tax increase.
To find your updated rate, use the MyTax Illinois Tax Rate Finder at mytax.illinois.gov and select rates for August 2026.
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New Tariffs Announced
Last week, the US Trade Representative (USTR) moved forward with a new round of Section 301 forced labor tariffs on 60 countries. Countries that have made commitments to adopt, and effectively enforce, forced labor import prohibitions will have a 10% tariff, while those that have not face a 12.5% tariff rate.
The new tariffs took effect immediately and effectively replace the temporary Section 122 tariffs that expired this week. They apply to 99.4% of US imports.
Click here for the USTR fact sheet on the new tariffs.
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Cook County Small Business Source Partner Meeting Recap
Jennifer Hefferly represented the Illinois Restaurant Association yesterday at the Cook County Small Business Source partner meeting, where she presented on marketing best practices to fellow stakeholders and partner organizations. Jennifer shared the strategies and tactics that have helped expand awareness of the Source's free resources and connect more small business owners with valuable support.
We're proud to continue this important work through our partnership with the Cook County Small Business Source and collaborate with organizations committed to strengthening Cook County's small business community. Great job, Jennifer!
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Taste of Chicago
The 2026 Taste of Chicago returned home to July with its expanded five-day celebration featuring 80 restaurant vendors, pop-ups, and food trucks, as well as incredible music acts. We were proud to manage restaurant operations, helping deliver a seamless experience for participating businesses and the thousands of attendees who came together to celebrate Chicago's vibrant culinary scene.
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Access to Capital Roundtable
At this month's roundtable, we gathered at U3 Coffee for an engaging discussion and the opportunity to connect restaurant operators with valuable resources and support. A special thank you to the Chicago Urban League, Greenwood Archer Capital, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and U3 Coffee for making this a successful event, as well as the Cook County Small Business Source for their continued support.
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Summer Board of Directors Meeting
This month, we held our Summer Board of Directors Meeting at Bronzeville Winery. Those who attended heard updates from the government relations, membership, education, and special events departments, as well as from the IRAEF. A big thank you to our gracious hosts Eric Williams, Cecilia Cuff, and the Bronzeville Winery team for hosting us!
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Get ready to shake your foodie at Chicago Gourmet powered by Invesco QQQ with top chefs, fabulous food, premium sips, spectacular settings, and toe-tapping music to keep the bites and beats going.
Explore tickets for a fun Gourmet Tailgate, an exquisite Global Stage Dinner, and a high-energy Asian Night Market. Oh, and make plans to "dine around" in September and win!
Celebrating the shared energy and passion in both food & dance this year, Chicago Gourmet has something for every taste. Check out the full schedule and complete talent lineup.
Click here to purchase tickets to all Chicago Gourmet events.
| | VIRTUAL BUSINESS ADVISING | | |
From Reviews to Revenue: Using Customer Feedback to Grow Your Business
Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, 20fy.ai, and the Cook County Small Business Source for an action-oriented session on online customer engagement and how independent restaurants can turn customer feedback into business growth.
Walk away with proven strategies to manage online reviews, monitor social media conversations, spot operational opportunities, and grow your business without adding to your workload.
Date: Wednesday, August 12
Time: 10:00am
Click here to register for the customer feedback virtual business advising session.
| | ACCESS TO CAPITAL ROUNDTABLE | | |
Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, JFLC, Southland Development Authority, and the Cook County Small Business Source for a complimentary Access to Capital Roundtable on Thursday, August 13 from 10 to 11:30am at Beyond Borders Café in Flossmoor.
Connect with restaurant owners, funding experts, and small business resource partners to learn about financing opportunities, available capital resources, and practical strategies to support your business growth.
Register now! Complimentary coffee and pastries will be served.
Click here to register for the Access to Capital Roundtable.
| | Photo Credit: Nate Swanson/Chicago Tribune | | | THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS | | | | |
