GRA Weekly
November 17, 2022
This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner Green Line Rates.
GRA FOUNDATION
Fulton Connect Gives Culinary Students a View into Their Future
A class must be really special for a group of 17 high schoolers to get up early each Saturday morning for a month and show up to school. Fulton Connect and Chef Simone Byron have developed a class just that special.

For three Saturdays in October, students from Banneker, Creekside, Langston Hughes, Tri-Cities and Westlake high schools enrolled in the Culinary Arts program at the Fulton Schools College and Career Academy (FSCCA) and attended culinary classes created by Chef Byron, executive director of Georgia ProStart, a division of the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA). Hosted in the state-of-the-art commercial kitchens at FSCCA, students donned white chefs' coats and got covered in flour as they learned the skills needed to be successful in food service.

Chef Byron is the daughter of the late Brenda Byron, a 23-year Fulton County educator, who was featured in her classroom at Hapeville Elementary on the Oprah Winfrey Show for her excellence in education. Continue reading.

Calling all Chefs!
If you would like to get involved and join us in a future bootcamp teaching and mentoring our youth, please contact Sarah Thorson.
SAVE ON ELECTRIC RATES!
The Time to Save on Electricity Costs is Today
The Georgia Restaurant Association fought hard for restaurants to have access to a rate that was previously only available to large, multi-unit chains. If you are a restaurant that uses Georgia Power, identifies as 722 in NAICS, and meet the actual peak demand requirement of not less than 30 kW, then you should reach out and ask about switching to the TOU-FD. We have heard testimonies from independent restaurants from across the state reporting an average savings of 10%-15% on their power bill.

You may contact Georgia Power’s Business Solutions Center directly at 1-888-655-5888. If you have any questions, you can contact us and we are happy to assist to the best of our ability or connect you with a trusted partner.

Background: Every 3 years, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) holds hearings regarding the electricity rates suggested by Georgia Power. In 2019, the Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) filed a rate case with the PSC against Georgia Power. There are over 80 different electricity rates. Restaurants and other medium businesses pay more for a unit of electricity than residential consumers and large manufacturers. Prior to 2020, large chains and franchises paid less for a unit of electricity than an independent restaurateur. The GRA successfully petitioned opened 3,000 slots for any restaurant filed as 722 of the NAICS to have access to the lower rate. The new rate is called Time of Use Food and Drink (TOU-FD).
GREEN LINE RATES
SUPPORT THE FUTURE
Did you know that you can generate donations while shopping, at no extra cost?
Simply start your shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/85-0672071 to confirm "Georgia Restaurant Association Foundation" as your charity of choice, and AmazonSmile will donate a portion of your eligible purchase price to our organization.
WHAT'S HOT 2023 CULINARY FORECAST
What’s Hot 2023 Culinary Forecast
Don’t miss the What’s Hot 2023 Culinary Forecast of top menu items, emerging trends to watch, and macro-trends influencing restaurant business operations.

More than 500 professional chefs across the country voted on 110 survey items curated by the Association and Technomic’s Menu Research & Insights Division.

The What’s Hot 2023 Culinary Forecast presents the top 10 Hot Trends overall, the top Hot Trends by category from dayparts and menu parts to beverages and condiments, and the top 3 Hot Trends from each category.

What are your customer's craving? Download your report today!
CITY OF ATLANTA 2023 BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWAL
FEDERAL UPDATES
USIS: Continuation of Documentation for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status Designations for El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua, Sudan, Honduras, and Nepal
Release Date: 11/14/2022

On Nov. 10, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a Federal Register Notice announcing the continuation of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and certain related documents for beneficiaries under the TPS designations that remain subject to the court orders in the Ramos et al. v. Nielsen and Bhattarai et al. v. Nielsen et al. lawsuits.

TPS beneficiaries under the designations for El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal, as well as the 2011 Haiti designation and the 2013 Sudan designation will retain their TPS while the preliminary injunction in Ramos and the stay of proceedings order in Bhattarai remain in effect, provided they continue to meet all the individual requirements for TPS eligibility. The automatic extension of TPS-related documentation includes specified Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) through June 30, 2024. Read more.

Restaurants reminded to display EEOC poster
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its “Know Your Rights” poster and is reminding covered businesses to display it in the workplace. Restaurants with at least 15 employees must place the poster in a conspicuous location. The EEOC is also advising employers with remote workers to post it electronically.
  • What this means for restaurants: The “Know Your Rights” poster summarizes federal laws prohibiting job discrimination. Businesses that do not comply with the display requirement face fines.
ATLANTA RESTAURATEUR RON HSU
How Atlanta chef Ron Hsu is living his legacy
FSR Magazine - Taiwanese immigrant Betty Hsu and her husband George built the seven-unit Hunan Village chain in Georgia in the 1980s and '90s, setting an ambitious example that son Ron Hsu has taken to heart. Hsu left New York and his post as Le Bernardin's creative director after almost seven years to open his own fine dining restaurant, Atlanta's Lazy Betty, and he has since added a second restaurant called Vietnamese Juniper Cafe and will soon open Humble Pie pizzeria. Continue reading.
IMPORTANT USCIS WEBINARS
Form I-9 Overview
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Learn about Form I-9 requirements, step-by-step instructions on how to complete each section, acceptable documents, retention, and storage. Useful for all employers and HR professionals. Tuesday, November 29 | 2:00PM | Register

E-Verify Overview
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Learn about how E-Verify works, how to enroll, program highlights, and a demonstration of the program. Useful for prospective, new E-Verify users, and HR professionals. Wednesday, November 30 | 2:00PM | Register

Employer Responsibilities
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
This joint agency webinar is hosted by USCIS, Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Immigrant and Employee Rights (IER) section, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Topics covered are employer responsibilities and anti-discrimination provisions during the E-Verify and Form I-9 employment eligibility verification processes. Useful for employers, workers, worker advocates, job seekers and HR professionals. Wednesday, December 14 | 2:00PM | Register
ERTC
ICYMI: TRENDING TAX TOPICS WEBINAR RECAP
Webinar Recap:
Trending Tax Topics: What the Restaurant Industry Needs to Know            
As we approach 2023, it is important to review sales tax rules and explore tax credit opportunities for your restaurant. Whether you are applying for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, wanting to learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act, or simply ensuring that your business is protected as you head into tax season, this webinar presented by Moore Colson CPAs & Advisors has the answers you need.

Read the full recap here.
OPEN ENROLLMENT
Healthy Hospitality | Open Enrollment
Get the coverage you need, without all the hassle. Visit https://www.hospitality-health.com/GRA or call (844) 759-0642 to get the best rates and enroll over the phone.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY
IFundWomen and Johnnie Walker First Strides Grant Program
IFundWomen and Johnnie Walker have come together to provide support to “trailblazing” women-owned businesses that continue to push boundaries and grow, helping their businesses succeed. Ten recipients of the First Strides Grant will receive a $10,000 grant and one year of coaching services through IFundWomen. Submit your application by December 31.

UPCOMING SERVSAFE CLASSES
UPCOMING WEBINARS + EVENTS
Form I-9 Overview
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Tuesday, November 29 | 2:00PM

E-Verify Overview
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Wednesday, November 30 | 2:00PM

Employer Responsibilities
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Wednesday, December 14 | 2:00PM
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE READING