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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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).

Over half of Virginia's health districts have now moved to Phase 1c, which has always included restaurant workers and now also includes hotel workers - see where your district is currently. (Note: some areas have bumped restaurant workers up to 1b, including the Richmond/Henrico and Alexandria health districts). Encourage your employees to preregister at https://vaccinate.virginia.gov/.

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.

In addition, the SBA has confirmed that applicants for the Restaurant Revitalization Grant (RRG) program 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. 

Mark Your Calendar!

The Governor has signed several bills that VRLTA successfully advocated for during the last session, including ones related to tax conformity and PPP deductibility, closing the online travel agency loophole, alcohol to go, ABC license and fee reform, and outdoor refreshment areas license. Learn more here.

Join VRLTA for the monthly Government Affairs update NEXT FRIDAY, April 9 at 2 p.m. on Zoom. Here is the link to join:

The 2021 National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference will be virtual, but it still provides an opportunity to expand restaurants' reach and impact with more attendees and more meetings on Capitol Hill. Register now! Click here or visit conference.restaurantsact.com. Use the code PAFCMEMBER to receive your member discount. Please reach out to pafc@restaurant.org with questions.

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?

Our new effort to recognize VRLTA members on social media is a hit! Want to have a chance to be featured? Fill out this quick form for us. Thanks!

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.

The SBA is increasing the maximum eligible amounts for Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs). Beginning April 6, recipients – including those who previously received an EIDL – can access up to $500,000. The previous limit was $150,000. Businesses that previously received an EIDL are not required to submit a request for an increase, as the SBA is expected to “reach out directly via email and provide more details about how businesses can request an increase closer to the April 6 implementation date.”

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. Earlier this week, the SBA updated a matrix with eligibility requirements. Learn more on the SBA website or here.

The Senate just concluded a series of amendment votes on the House passed PPP extension (H.R. 1799). The amendments failed and the Senate then passed (92-7) H.R. 1799. As such, the legislation will soon be signed into law. The bill extends the PPP application deadline (currently March 31, 2021) two months, to May 31, 2021; and provides an additional 30 days, after May 31st, for the Small Business Administration (SBA) to process pending applications. This is a positive development for the many of our members who have been seeking the extension. We have been advocating in favor of this legislation to ensure that restaurants have ample time to apply for the program and that SBA processing delays don’t negatively impact applicants. As a reminder, for restaurants to qualify they must: employ 300 or fewer persons per location; and have experienced a 25% or greater gross revenue loss between comparable periods in 2019 and 2020, as a result of COVID-19. Qualifying restaurants can access up to 3.5X average monthly payroll (2.5X for other industries) in forgivable PPP loans. For more information on the second round of PPP, please see the attached. The following contains information on how PPP interacts with the new Restaurant Revitalization Fund: https://restaurantsact.com/rrf/

As of March 11, businesses can claim a temporary sales tax exemption on PPE purchases. Read the letter from Senator Todd Pillion, sponsor of the legislation, here. Find more guidance here.