In the Mix: RRF Replenishment | Federal Unemployment Benefits

Volume 34 | August 25, 2021

NCRLA.ORG | COVID-19 RESOURCES

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New Data Drives Urgent Call for RRF Replenishment

Yesterday, the National Restaurant Association, NCRLA, and other state restaurant associations sent a letter to Congressional leadership to urge swift replenishment of the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The letter references data in a new customer survey of restaurant dining behavior in light of the Delta variant of COVID-19. The results are troubling. A significant number of customers have stopped using restaurants altogether, and a growing number are only using outdoor dining or take-out/delivery. Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for the National restaurant Association, outlines this issue in his 90-second video. In addition to signing the letter, NCRLA leaders and members met with Senators Burr and Tillis to discuss the issue.

The RRF has been a lifeline for many owners, but it only funded roughly one in three applications, leaving 177,000 restaurants in communities across the country without desperately needed assistance. Here in North Carolina, 6,628 applied for grants totaling about $1.5 billion. Around 2,570 of those applicants got $646 million. One of the businesses left out is Bittersweet. Owner Kim Hammer wrote in the News & Observer, "We are tired. We are battered. And it feels like no one is listening. Congress must do what’s right and replenish the RRF, so Bittersweet and nearly 200,000 other restaurant applicants can survive." In the Wilmington area, like across the country, only about a third of applicants received the aid.

Please take one moment to participate in our grassroots engagement calling upon Congress to replenish the RRF, even if you’ve done it before and even if you already received an RRF grant. With Congress beginning its work on a large budget reconciliation bill, now is the time that they need to hear from our industry, with one loud and united voice.

End of Federal Unemployment Benefits Scheduled for September 4

With rising wages and an all-time high number of job openings, the NC Division of Employment Security has begun notifying stakeholders and customers that that federal pandemic unemployment benefits are scheduled to end Sept. 4, 2021. The federal programs that are ending include Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) and Mixed Earners Unemployment Compensation (MEUC). The state unemployment insurance benefit program will remain in place, but for each claimant, the benefit expires after 13 weeks in a one-year period.

While the US labor market continues to add jobs, the food services and accommodations industry cannot fill the growing number of job openings. NCRLA's NC Hospitality Job Board is a fast, easy tool for employers to post jobs and potential employees to find jobs. Plus the job board allows recruiters to get double posts to Google Careers and integrates with ZipRecruiter, helping reach a broader audience. Successful connections are being made all the time. Employers can use these directions to post new positions. For questions about posting, contact Shannon McGuire.

Navigating Ordinances and Policies on Masks and Vaccines

The specifics of ordinances and policies for both masks and vaccines vary by jurisdiction and business. NCRLA is actively working with the NC League of Municipalities and Metro Mayors Association to help guide more consistency and clarity to ensure that restaurants, bars, and hotels aren’t liable or responsible for enforcing mask mandates for guests.

As vaccines begin to reach full FDA approval and more venues require either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test result, check out best practices for restaurants, which includes information on the legal and logistical ramifications of enforcing the policy and cover issues around requirements for both employees and guests.

Watch a webinar recording from our partners at the National Restaurant Association on the science behind the effectiveness of vaccine and mask mandates. Operators can use this information to develop consistent and effective messaging to explain their restaurants’ mandated policy and their efforts to keep employees and guests safe when dining indoors.

NCRLA will continue to track the rapidly changing requirements across the state and will update our COVID resources here.

Challenges Across Liquor Supply Chain Throw a Wrench in Summer Rebound

Bars and restaurants throughout North Carolina have struggled to fill shelves with alcohol as customers ventured back out after COVID-19 mandates were lifted, and the heightened demand is straining supply. The North Carolina Spirits Association and Mecklenburg County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board issued a joint statement last month addressing the product challenges. But the conditions are far-reaching and are shaping how alcohol brands plan ahead, into fiscal year 2022. READ MORE

ERTC Slated to End on Sept. 30, but Claims Can Be Filed for up to 3 Years

After experiencing capacity restrictions or revenue losses from the pandemic, many businesses are utilizing the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), which can provide up to $7,000 per employee during a calendar quarter. Now, a provision to end the ERTC on Sept. 30, rather than at the end of 2021 as originally planned, is in President Biden’s infrastructure bill. But unlike PPP, where there's a specific amount of funding, the ERTC is open-ended. So, if the program does end on Sept. 30, employers have up to three years from the date of filing their employment tax return to actually make their claim. READ MORE

NATIONAL UPDATES

Save the Date: Restaurant Legal Summit is in Person in Raleigh Nov. 3-5

The Restaurant Law Center is set to host its F ifth Annual Restaurant Legal Summit in downtown Raleigh, NC, on November 3-5. Take this opportunity to connect in-person with legal experts from some of our nation's top law firms and senior representatives from some of the restaurant industry's most successful brands as we discuss the most critical legal and compliance issues facing our industry. Mark your calendars; event registration opens soon.

Free Passes to Technology Expo

NCRLA partner Relay is offering NCRLA members complimentary passes to the Hospitality Industry Technology Exposition and Conference (HITEC®), the world's largest and oldest hospitality technology event. Join HITEC in Dallas, TX, on September 28-30. The event is produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals . For questions, contact Tim Rogers at Relay.

Expanded EIDL Program Delayed

Last week, AHLA hosted a webinar with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) discussing an expanded and improved Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program that would better serve hoteliers. Since then, the SBA has informed us that the expanded program has been delayed. AHLA is urging Biden Administration officials to move forward with these new EIDL changes as quickly as possible and will be in touch with updated information as soon as it is available.