Coronavirus: Resources for Restaurants

Coronavirus Recovery -
Resources for Restaurants

OPERATION DURING THE PANDEMIC RECOVERY
As government COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted, each individual business will need to decide what is right for their business and their community. WRA will continue to provide guidance and resources to help restaurant operators navigate the pandemic recovery.

COVID-19 FAQs

OPERATING DURING THE PANDEMIC - GUIDELINES FOR RESTAURANTS

COVID-19 SAFETY AND OPERATIONS TRAINING

EMPLOYEES WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED

Guidance on Employees Who Tested Positive for COVID-19 or Have Been Exposed

POSTERS, CHECKLISTS AND MORE

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/RESTAURANT RELIEF

Restaurant Revitalization Fund

National Restaurant Association Fact Sheets

Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)
The US Small Business Administration announced extended deferment periods for all disaster loans, including the COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program until 2022.

Keep in mind that interest continues to accrue during the deferment period and borrowers may make full or partial payments if they choose.

All SBA disaster loans made in calendar year 2020, including COVID-19 EIDL, will have a first payment due date extended from 12-months to 24-months from the date of the note.

More Info

EIDL loans may still be available. EIDL Advance is closed and Targeted EIDL Advance has limited eligibility per the Small Business Administration (SBA).

FAQs on How to Apply

SBA Website

Heartland Capital
All businesses can have access to loans up to $5 million and access a line of credit up to $500 thousand. What will be needed to apply:

Currently open for business and in business for at least 6 months
Can provide six consecutive bank statements
Have a credit score of 550 or higher
Annual income of at least $100k

You do not need to be a current Heartland customer to apply.

To learn more please text the word “Capital” to 1-414-409-0087 or call 414-973-9128. You may also email Tony Jalan directly at tony.jalan@e-hps.com

Current Regulations

Local Health Departments List

There are currently no statewide regulations regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
The governor’s emergency order that included a statewide mask mandate was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court on March 31, 2021.

Keep in mind that businesses must still follow any local public health orders.
WRA encourages restaurant operators to contact their local health department or municipality to see what regulations are in place.

What is WRA Doing?

AS OF MAY 20, 2021; INFORMATION IS FAST CHANGING
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the Wisconsin Restaurant Association has been working to protect your businesses and champion important policies that provide financial relief and critical support to you and your employees during this difficult and challenging time.

Much Accomplished
Since the onset of the pandemic, WRA’s advocacy efforts helped accomplish the following:

Worked with the Ever’s Administration to secure We’re All In Grants for restaurants totaling nearly $65 million
Funded additional rounds of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), with special considerations for restaurants
Ensure that PPP loan proceeds and paid expenses are tax deductible at the federal level
Keep restaurants open in Wisconsin for takeout, drive- through, curbside and delivery as orders from the Governor came through
Prohibit any foreclosures or evictions of any licensee until 60 days after the Emergency Order expires
Prohibit any insurance cancellations of any licensee until 60 days after the Emergency Order expires
Suspend the one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance
Waive certain parameters related to the Work- Share Program, specifically eliminating the current 20-employee minimum and 2-week waiting period
Provide protections for businesses from UI rate increases due to employee layoffs caused by the public health emergency
Allow golf courses to re-open to golfers only
Provide a 2-month moratorium on all state tax payments and include the opportunity to pay them back in installments to allow businesses to start to get back on their feet first
Impose a freeze on Unemployment Insurance rates so that businesses needing to lay off a high amount of employees do not face insurmountable increases in their UI costs
Temporarily suspend the 15 day beer credit law and 30 day alcohol credit day law
Allow take out of mixed beverage alcohol AKA Cocktails-to-Go for Class B license holders as long as they are contained in a sealed container and include a face-to-face transaction
Pass commonsense liability protections to help Wisconsin communities reopen and recover without the threat of frivolous COVID-19 lawsuits
Pass state legislation to ensure Wisconsin adopts PPP income tax deductibility provisions
Prevent frivolous lawsuits against employers who use POS systems to collect employee tip declarations
Advocating on behalf of restaurants in local jurisdictions that have stronger restrictions in place.

On the federal level, lobbying by WRA and the National Restaurant Association helped get specific benefits for the restaurant and hospitality industry in the CARES Act and subsequent relief legislation.

More to Do
WRA is currently working on the following issues on the state and local level:

Permit delivery of alcohol through age verified sales via phone/online transactions for Class A and B license holders during the Emergency Order directly or through a third party
Prevent the Wisconsin Department of Health Services from releasing names of businesses who have had two or more employees test positive for COVID-19. WRA filed an amicus brief supporting the lawsuit against the department
Continue to educate elected officials, public health advocates, the media and the public on the economic devastation restaurants are experiencing
Be “at the table” for federal discussions regarding minimum wage increases and elimination of the tip credit

Suppliers Offering COVID-Related Goods/Services

Suppliers are essential in helping restaurants survive and thrive. We're maintaining a list of suppliers who are partners of the WRA and offering goods and services that are critical during the Coronavirus crisis. Some are also offering special discounts. We'll continue to add to the list so check back often.

Download Your Copy Here

Employees Who Have Tested Positive for COVID-19 or Have Been Exposed

Are you grappling with the issue of an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 or has been exposed to someone who has tested positive? You're not alone. Our Ask WRA Team has received quite a few questions from restaurant operators about this topic. WRA provides resources with the latest guidance on how to handle the situation.

More Info

Free Food Safety Training Available

Because of the challenges presented by COVID-19, ServSafe has developed a number of free resources aimed at keeping our workers and the dining public safe. Free courses include ServSafe Reopening Guidance: COVID-19 Precautions, ServSafe Delivery: COVID-19 Precautions and ServSafe Takeout: COVID-19 Precautions.

Access Free Training

Posters

Labor Shortage Posters

Spread the Love, Not the Pandemic and many more posters can be found in Workforce Resources.

Download Poster

Customer Appreciation Signs

WRA has created posters and social media images for restaurants to download and display. Choose your favorite poster to display at your location and/or share one of the images to your social media accounts to show your customers that you appreciate their continued support.

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COVID-19

Coronavirus Recovery - ​Resources for Restaurants

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE/RESTAURANT RELIEF​