GRA Weekly
February 3, 2022
This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Coca-Cola.
STATE OF THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY REPORT
The 2022 State of the Restaurant Industry report has been released. This year’s report measures the restaurant industry’s road to recovery and forecasts emerging trends across key categories including technology, on- and off-premises business, operations, workforce, food and menus, and more.

Key findings include:
  • The foodservice industry is projected to reach $898B in sales this year.
  • The foodservice industry workforce is expected to grow by 400K jobs and reach 14.9M in ’22.
  • Food, labor, and occupancy costs will continue to rise, more severely impacting restaurant profit margins in ’22.

The report is free to members and $349 for non-members. All GRA Restaurant Members are also dual members of the National Restaurant Association. If you're not sure if your membership is current, please reach out to us at info@garestaurants.org.
STATE OF THE PLATE
How long is Legislative Session? What issues are legislators discussing that could directly impact restaurants? Get the answers to these questions and more information from GRA President + CEO Karen Bremer.
PLEASE HELP US TAKE ACTION!
RRF Grassroots Campaign Floods Congress, Media
Launched last week along with a letter to congressional leaders and a media awareness campaign emphasizing new research on deteriorating business conditions, the Association’s latest grassroots campaign urging Congress to replenish the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) generated nearly 50,000 letters to policymakers on Capitol Hill and earned nearly 3,000 media mentions.

There’s still time to show your support. Take action now, and join our efforts to replenish the RRF.
TASTE OF GEORGIA
13th Annual Taste Of Georgia Legislative Reception
This annual event is an opportunity for GRA members to showcase their food to elected officials and for our legislators to network with our state’s second largest employer. The honorees of the 2022 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program will also be recognized.

GRA Restaurant Members: If you are interested in participating and showcasing your restaurant, send us an email at info@garestaurants.org.

Attendance is complimentary for lobbyists, dignitaries, legislators, staff and their guests however registration is required. Discounted registration is available for GRA Members.

UPCOMING WEBINARS
The Omicron Tsunami, How Employers Should Prepare
InPrime Legal CEO and Chief Visionary Officer Jonathan Page, and our Special Guest - Karen Bremer President & CEO of the Georgia Restaurant Association - will address actionable steps you can implement to help insulate your operations from liability related to COVID-19 and its multiple variants. Jonathan will discuss specific strategies businesses should take today to help stay clear of workplace hazard liabilities.

Wednesday February 16, 2022
1:00PM - 2:00PM EST
ERTC UPDATES
ERTC Refunds
Our partners at the National Restaurant Association led calls for the IRS to speed ERTC refunds in a November letter. Restaurants continue to share this urgency with Congress and lawmakers are beginning to contact the IRS. Last week, 216 legislators called the IRS backlog “devastating to small businesses” and asked the IRS to quickly process 500,000 amended Forms 941 so that ERTC refunds can be delivered. Lawmakers are now increasingly concerned about the refund backlog getting worse in March/April.

Bipartisan Q4 Restoration
The NRA is supporting the “ERTC Reinstatement Act” (H.R. 6161), which simply restores ERTC eligibility for the 4th quarter of 2021. Currently, the House bill has 49 supporters – 21 Democrats and 28 Republicans – and we expect a bipartisan Senate companion introduced as soon as February 10.

In a January survey, 60% of restaurant respondents said they experienced losses of 20% or more in Q4 – which would make them eligible for ERTC if H.R. 6161 becomes law. If Q4 is restored, ERTC would be available to any eligible small business but restaurants are uniquely eligible due to economic headwinds.

ERTC Reinstatement Act Introduced
The Employee Retention Tax Credit, a valuable and popular COVID-19 relief tool for thousands of restaurants, was established in March 2020 to help small businesses retain and rehire employees who were let go due to the pandemic. The program ended early in Sept. 2021 to help fund the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Efforts to get it reinstated are underway. Read more.
FREE SERVSAFE COURSE
ServSafe COVID-19 Conflict De-Escalation Course is FREE
Course offers restaurant employees guidance on how to reduce tensions and promote a safe environment when following mask and vaccination proof mandates. Teach employees how to ease tensions while maintaining the spirit of hospitality throughout all interactions. Get it here.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Scholarship Applications available from the National Restaurant Association
Anyone pursuing a secondary education in the restaurant, foodservice & hospitality industry is invited to apply for an undergraduate scholarship starting Sat., Jan. 15 through Tues., March 15. 

-Scholarships range from $2,500 to $10,000. 
-For more info and to apply, visit ChooseRestaurants.org/Scholarships.
UPCOMING SERVSAFE CLASSES
UPCOMING WEBINARS + EVENTS
2022 State of the Restaurant Industry Webinar
National Restaurant Association
Wednesday, February 9, 2022 | 2:00PM

The Omicron Tsunami, How Employers Should Prepare
InPrime Legal
Wednesday February 16, 2022 | 1:00PM - 2:00PM EST

Living with the Department of Labor's New Dual Jobs Final Rule While the Federal Courts Consider its Validity
Restaurant Law Center
Thursday, February 17, 2022 | 3:00PM

Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception
Georgia Restaurant Association
Wednesday, February 23, 2022 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM

Hunger Walk Run
Atlanta Community Food Bank
Sunday, March 6, 2022

2022 Public Affairs Conference
National Restaurant Association
April 25-27, 2022 | Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC
HERE'S WHAT WE'RE READING
HELPFUL RESOURCES LINKS