The Slice gives you all the news you can use. Each issue will include the latest news, COVID-19 updates, legislative news, and other relevant items for our readers. Please let us know if you'd like to see anything in particular or have other feedback - just email marketing@vrlta.org.
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VRLTA asks General Assembly for $270 million in financial support for tourism and hospitality
As tourism and hospitality in Virginia continue to suffer due to the pandemic, the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association has asked the General Assembly for a comprehensive plan to address the needs of organizations that support these important cornerstones of the Commonwealth's economy.
The proposal requests more than $270 million in financial support, to include:
- Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, and other lodging establishments: $184.7 million
- Restaurants: $36.7 million
- Attractions: $10 million
- Tourism entities:
- Destination Marketing Organizations/CVBs: $12.25 million
- Virginia Tourism Corporation: $20 million in additional funding over two years
- Convention Centers: $1.5 million
- Campgrounds: $2 million
- Wedding Venues: $4.7 million
- Training and upskilling programs, support for industry-specific job board: $1.5 million
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Vaccine Update: Many Virginia health districts open vaccines to anyone aged 16+
As of today, 15 of Virginia's health districts have moved into Phase 2 and opened vaccines to anyone over age 16. Most other districts are in 1c, with only the Arlington, Prince William, and Crater health districts still in 1b. The Governor has announced that all health districts should open vaccines to everyone 16 and up no later than April 18. See where your district is currently here.
VDH is already reaching out to people in Phase 2 who have preregistered at https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/ to sign up for an appointment, so if you or your employees haven't preregistered, do so now! |
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In addition, VDH has developed an Essential Workers Toolkit in several languages with materials to help businesses engage with employees to encourage vaccinations. They held a webinar to introduce the toolkit and provide more information on Virginia's vaccination effort. See the webinar here. See a list of frequently asked questions and answers for employers on this page (scroll down). The CDC also has a fact sheet for employers here.
In Hampton Roads? Anyone over 16 can now register for a vaccine clinic at Military Circle Mall. More information here.
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Planning to apply for the Restaurant Revitalization Grant? Here's what you need to know...
- In a U.S. Senate Small Business Committee hearing, the SBA said it expects a “phased launch” of the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Grant program to begin in April, over the next 30 to 45 days. This is the first timeline provided by the SBA, which expects to receive “hundreds of thousands of grants.” The NRA continues to work closely with SBA staff on implementation of this program.
- The SBA has confirmed that applicants will not need to register for a DUNS number or on SAM.gov. This is a change from early March, when it was expected that applications would require this process as they currently do under the Shuttered Venues Operators (SVO) grant program. The shift by SBA recognized the significant demand for the RRG program – up to hundreds of thousands of applicants are expected – and the voice of the NRA and state associations like VRLTA who asked SBA to streamline and simplify the application process to avoid administrative complexity.
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Form 4506-T is the form that will likely be needed for the grant application. More info here: https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-4506-t and here: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f4506t.pdf
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AHLA Updates Safe Stay Guidelines
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CDC relaxes travel guidelines for those fully vaccinated; U.S. Travel weighs in
The CDC announced new guidance on April 2, saying that fully vaccinated people are at low-risk from travel ( learn more here). U.S. Travel released a statement in support, which can be seen here.
U.S. Travel is also calling for industry professionals to contact legislators about the Hospitality and Commerce Job Recovery Act. Learn more here. |
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Shuttered Venues Operators Grant Program opens today
The SVOG program was created when the Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act was signed into law in late December. The Economic Aid Act appropriated $15 billion to the program, which is designed to provide eligible applicants with grants equal to 45% of their gross earned revenue, up to a maximum of $10 million. The American Rescue Plan Act, which became law March 11, appropriated an additional $1.25 billion to the SVOG, bringing the program’s funding to a total of $16.25 billion. More than $16 billion of the funding is set aside for grants. The American Rescue Plan Act also amended the SVOG program so entities that apply for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan after Dec. 27, 2020, can also apply for an SVOG, with the eligible entity’s SVOG to be reduced by the PPP loan amount. Entities eligible to apply for an SVOG include live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theater operators, and talent representatives. Additional resources:
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Complete the NRA's April Restaurant Survey
Help us get data on what's going on with restaurants in Virginia. Complete the latest NRA survey TODAY! Find the survey here.
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VRLTA to be recognized by Richmond Region Tourism
VRLTA will be recognized at RRT's Annual Awards Program with the Tourism Impact Award. (Thank you, RRT!) This award is the highest honor given each year. Want to share in the fun? Register here for the event. |
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Mark Your Calendar!
Other Webinar Resources...
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Past VRLTA webinars can be seen here.
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National Restaurant Association on-demand webinars on a variety of topics can be found here.
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AHLA also has many on-demand webinars for members. Find them here.
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The Restaurant Law Center has free webinars on demand here.
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The U.S. Travel Association has past webinars available for download here.
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Governor Signs VRLTA-backed bills
The Governor recently signed the following VRLTA backed bills into law:
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Third Party Food Delivery Service Agreements: HB2062 institutes a requirement that food delivery services like UberEats, GrubHub, and others must reach an agreement with the restaurant that authorizes the platform to process or deliver food from that restaurant.
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Tourism Improvement Districts: SB1298 allows localities to establish tourism improvement districts (TID) which is a novel approach for financing tourism promotion and marketing through the collection of fees on hospitality related businesses. It also requires that the locality must obtain approval from a majority of the businesses for the creation of the TID and fee. The funds collected would be placed into a lockbox and used exclusively for tourism promotion be managed a board of the businesses or the DMO.
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Monthly Government Affairs call tomorrow, April 9, at 2 p.m.
Join VRLTA for the monthly Government Affairs update TOMORROW, April 9 at 2 p.m. on Zoom. Here is the link to join:
Meeting ID: 965 3731 6850
Passcode: 601704
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2020 Legislation with delayed enactment takes effect May 1, 2021
As you may recall, after successful advocacy efforts from VRLTA last year, the Governor amended various bills that would impact the hospitality and tourism community. These amendments sought to delay many different bills that would adversely impact our industry especially with anticipated economic fallout from COVID-19. These delayed enactments pushed these bills to being effective on May 1, 2021. Here are those measures from the 2020 legislative session:
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Minimum Wage Increases May 1: HB395 and SB7 would increase Virginia Minimum Wage. The conference committee report stipulates following:
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The only change the Governor made to the bill was delaying the first minimum wage increase to $9.50 from January 1, 2021 to May 1, 2021. From January 1, 2022 to January 1, 2023 the minimum wage will be $11 per hour, and from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2025 the minimum wage will be $12 per hour.
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Exempts any person who is less than 18 years of age and who is enrolled in a full time basis in any secondary school, institution of higher education, or trade school so long as they are not employed more than 20 hours per week.
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Establishes training wage be created that allows for an employee be paid 75% of the state minimum wage for the first 90 days.
- There is a provision to increase it to $15, but that has a re-enactment clause attached to it that requires the legislature to approve that section again. If the increase to $15 per hour is not approved then it will be set to CPI-U.
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Beginning January 1, 2022 the state will conduct a study on the impact of implementing a regional minimum wage, counting all fringe benefits towards the minimum wage, and the impact on employees and employers.
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The study will also review the impact of the increases that have taken place on employers. The report must be provided to the General Assembly and Governor no later than December 1, 2023.
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The bill doesn’t make any changes to the tipped wage.
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Regional Lodging Taxes for Transportation: HB1414, and SB890 include provisions that increase the regional lodging tax in Northern Virginia from two percent to three percent to fund Metro. Meanwhile, HB1726, and SB1038 both include provisions that would impose a one percent to fund public transit in Hampton Roads. According to those amendments enacted last year, these regional lodging taxes to fund transportation will take effect May 1, 2021.
VRLTA advocated during the 2021 Virginia General Assembly Session for further delays on these measures, but we were ultimately unsuccessful in getting them pushed back further. That being said, as you have seen from many of our priorities that were advanced in the 2021 session we had a very successful outcome overall with many more wins.
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Attend the 2021 NRA Public Affairs Conference on 4/20
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President proclaims April 2021 Second Chance Month
President Biden is recognizing this month as Second Chance Month. See his official proclamation here. VRLTA supports second chances through our association with the HOPES program, which uses a Community Collaborative Model among the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation, VRLTA, the Virginia Department of Corrections, and local community-based organizations to connect young adults, ages 18-24 with current or previous justice-involvement, to career opportunities in the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry.
HOPES partners utilize the NRAEF’s Restaurant Ready training framework to equip young adults currently in correctional facilities, on parole/probation, or with former justice-involvement. Once a participant completes work-readiness and industry-specific training, HOPES helps them gain employment in a local restaurant and/or foodservice establishment. VRLTA and the NRAEF works with employers and partnering organizations to help further the professional training and education of HOPES participants through connections to credentials and apprenticeship programs. HOPES is funded by the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. Learn more about this innovative program here.
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Upcoming Hiring Event for Hampton Roads |
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VRLTA Job Board: FREE Listings for VRLTA Members
VRLTA's hospitality- and tourism-specific job board currently has over 120 jobs listed. Has your company listed open positions? If not, you might be missing that perfect candidate.
VRLTA members get unlimited listings for free (choose 30, 60 or 90 days - up to $100 value for each listing!). A 30-day listing for nonmembers is just $50. Job seekers can search jobs statewide and post their resume in the resume bank. Take advantage of your membership and get free listings through the end of the year. There's no cost or risk to members - why not give it a try?
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Want to be featured on Member Monday?
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Richmond Restaurants: Take Part in the Aramark Guest Restaurant Program
Looking for another revenue stream? Check out this local RVA program...Aramark serves thousands of Richmond-area employees in corporate food service locations, including at Capital One. While employees work from home, Aramark is delivering prepared meals (or recipes with ingredients to cook) to employees. Their Guest Restaurant/Local Restaurant Row Program is looking to support the local restaurant community by partnering with you to serve your recipes to employees. Participating restaurants receive a royalty. Interested in learning more? Email phillip.ali@capitalone.com.
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