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June 17, 2021
As many of you have been following the recent updates on the SBA and RRF, we thought it would be of interest to you to read the letter sent by Sean Kennedy, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the National Restaurant Association, that he sent out earlier today. In collaboration with local restaurant associations across the country, Sean sent the letter linked here to SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman. We found it important to note that not only did he address Director Guzman, he also copied Bipartisan Leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate....
June 17, 2021
Managing Your Menu to Improve Profitability
Restaurants need to pay close attention to their menu now more than ever. The pandemic has made us all focus on what sells as we pair down our inventory to reduce cost and improve back of the house efficiency. In addition, the changing times are now producing record inflation which makes managing your food cost and updating your menu pricing critical to your success.
See what FoodPRO Executive Chef Dustin Stone recommends moving forward!
View the video below and then take a short five-question...
May 26, 2021
For many years, a restaurant's relationship with their food distributor has been primarily a transactional nature. Finding the best products at the best prices has been the norm which has led to a relationship of "I need you, but am I willing to partner with you to grow my business?"
One strategy many restaurants used over the past year to remain viable in the marketplace was to partner with their food distributor. The video below features Tom Enright from FoodPRO, an RAMW Industry Partner, who speaks about how your food distributor can help you reach a new level of...
May 20, 2021
Foodservice industry to celebrate community’s incredible resilience and innovation.
Washington, DC (May 20, 2021) — Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced today that the 39th Annual RAMMY Awards will return to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as an in-person event on Sunday, September 19, 2021. New this year, the awards will pivot once again to honor the industry for the extraordinary ways in which its operators, distributors and suppliers, and industry partners were innovative, rethinking operations and navigating recent challenges in...
May 19, 2021
To help our restaurant clients stay current with ongoing legislative and industry developments, we have partnered with leading law firm Shulman Rogers and the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington to provide regular updates. Here are highlights from a recent conversation with Shulman Rogers Attorney Joy Eeinstein and Kathy Ogilvie of Restaurant People Cloud.
COVID Vaccine Protocols for Restaurants
Q1. Can Restaurants Mandate Vaccines?
A1. Yes, restaurants can mandate that employees get them, so long as you have exceptions for strongly held religious beliefs and disabilities,...
April 28, 2021
SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund Webinar Q&A
How long will I have to wait to find out if my application is being funded?
Applications submitted will be turned around in 14 days if done through POS or SBA online application.
Can we apply on day 1, minute 1 when the application portal opens, even if we aren't a woman, veteran or minority owned businesses?
YES
I am female and own 100% of my business as of 2020. The 10 years Prior to that I had a 50% partner who was male. We have not done our 2020 taxes yet, so how do I document on the RRF application that I am a 100%...
April 27, 2021
Fund prioritizes direct relief to women, veterans, and socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, and includes $9.5 billion in set-asides for smaller businesses.
WASHINGTON - SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman today announced the U.S. Small Business Administration will begin registrations on Friday, April 30, 2021, at 9 a.m. EDT and open applications on Monday, May 3, 2021, at noon EDT for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. The online application will remain open to any eligible establishment until all funds are exhausted....
April 21, 2021
IRS issues guidance for restaurant entertainment expenses, now fully deductible through 2022.
To assist the hospitality industry in its recovery from pandemic-related shutdowns, the December Consolidated Appropriations Act authorized a temporary 100% tax deduction for business meal expenses provided generally by restaurants that would have otherwise been limited to 50%. The IRS has now provided guidance on the newly enacted 100% deduction, in Notice 2021-25, issued April 8.
Background
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) changed Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 274...
April 19, 2021
Our friends at RY CPAs, a DC firm and fellow RAMW member that specializes in restaurant accounting, have graciously launched a Restaurant Recovery Program that awards three months of their accounting and CFO services to RAMW members at a significantly reduced rate in an effort to help restaurants recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides a unique opportunity for restaurants to modernize, streamline, and improve financial reporting in their operation so they can have near real-time access to key performance indicators at time when it is needed most. The goal is to help...
April 19, 2021
The Small Business Administration (SBA) landing page for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund is LIVE. Note: This is NOT the application. This is the program website, program guide, and final sample application that will give you more details and insight about the application process. We’ve noted along the way that SBA’s intention was to first distribute this information to give people time to prepare, then host educational sessions and Q&A’s (see below for our session registration), and then the application will likely go live at the end of April.
The website...
March 29, 2021
Uber is donating 5,000 free rides to RAMW to help restaurant workers get to and from their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. This announcement is part of Uber’s commitment to donate 10 million free rides to vaccine appointments nationally.
Promo codes will be distributed to members located in DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland via RAMW and can be redeemed until September 30, 2021.
Promo Code Details:
This promotion is open to RAMW members.
Each promo code will give two (2) free rides, up to $25 off each (maximum $50 total discount per person). The...
March 29, 2021
5,000 FREE rides for Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington members will help keep restaurant workers safe amid the ongoing pandemic.
WASHINGTON - on March 29th, Uber announced it will donate 5,000 free rides to the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to help restaurant workers get to and from their COVID-19 vaccination appointments. This announcement is part of Uber’s commitment to donate 10 million free rides to vaccine appointments nationally.
“DC’s restaurant workers are among the hardest working and hardest hit members of our...
March 23, 2021
Sharing this AAPI Resources Guide that our friends at Common Threads put together.
Visit the Common Threads AAPI page for a full list of resources
Report a hate crime
Stop AAPI Hate
Celebrating AAPI Culture
12 Ways to Enrich Kids’ Appreciation of Asian-Pacific American Culture (U.S. Department of Education)
Asian Reflections on the American Landscape (U.S. Department of the Interior)
Bystander Intervention...
March 15, 2021 to March 28, 2021
National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) has joined forces with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to announce a $100,000 relief program called, “Love Local” to address the upending impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on restaurants and retail. This critical localized initiative is designed to provide funding and promotion to help National Landing restaurants and small businesses in need of immediate support.
The “Love Local” program will distribute financial support to all eligible open, brick & mortar small business or...
March 15, 2021
Funds Will Support Open and Eligible National Landing Restaurants and Small Businesses
(Arlington, VA) – March 15, 2021 – National Landing Business Improvement District (BID) has joined forces with the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) to announce a $100,000 relief program called, “Love Local” to address the upending impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This critical localized initiative is designed to provide funding and promotion to help National Landing restaurants and small businesses in need of immediate support.
“...
February 1, 2021
Governor Northam approved permanent version of COVID-19 workplace safety rules. Employers should familiarize themselves with the new standard which is attached to this memorandum.
On Wednesday, January 27th, Governor Northam announced that he has approved a permanent version of its COVID-19 workplace safety rules, which mandates employers implement pandemic precautions such as social distancing and masks.
The permanent standards will remain in place at least until the end of the pandemic, at which point the Commonwealth’s Safety and Health Codes Board can reconvene to...
February 1, 2021
Throwing Bean for Beads. Mardi Gras Benefit Feeding the DMV Restaurant Community in Need on February 16th, 2021.
It has been a very tough time for all of us in the restaurant industry and what helps keep us going is that we are in this together and thinking of ways to help each other. We are sharing an event we are in support of and would like to see if you wish to participate.
Event co-chairs for the annual Mardi Gras Extravaganza event in DC, chefs David Guas (native New Orleanian) and Spike Mendelsohn, along with Micheline Mendelsohn, Gina Chersevani, and Bruce Pike are putting...
January 13, 2021
Groundbreaking collaboration provides detailed copyright information for more than 20 million songs, including reconciled ownership shares, offering greater transparency for the industry
NEW YORK – (December 21, 2020) – ASCAP and BMI, the nation’s two leading performing rights organizations, today announced the launch of SONGVIEW, a comprehensive data platform that provides music users with an authoritative view of copyright ownership and administration shares in the vast majority of music licensed in the United States. SONGVIEW technology allows ASCAP and...
December 21, 2020
Good news on the Federal Relief front! A silver lining in this challenging week is that Congress has reached a bipartisan deal that will likely pass the House and Senate today. This is a bright spot as we head into the Holidays and are faced with many operational hindrances. The final text is finally out. Below is a quick analysis of what's included thanks to Matt Hetrick at the Harmony Group.
PAYROLL PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP)
Who Qualifies: If your business has experienced a quarter this year with a sales drop of 25%+ vs last year, you will likely...
December 10, 2020 to January 10, 2021
To ensure we are reaching diners and restaurant supporters every week, we have created a Winter Marketing Timeline. This calendar of marketing promotions is active now encouraging diners to explore all our local restaurants have to offer for the holiday season, whether they are dining out, dining out at home, or looking for holiday meals and treats to order for family and friends. It continues through January, into February with Valentine’s Day, and through the month of March.
As we talk to media outlets, share on social media, and promote all that you are doing, we can...
December 8, 2020 to February 19, 2021
PARTICIPATION DETAILS
DEADLINE: Friday, February 19, 2021
SIGN UP HERE!
CHERRY PICKS PROGRAM: The National Cherry Blossom Festival, in conjunction with RAMW, is proud to showcase the District’s vibrant and diverse restaurant scene to attendees of the Festival to be held March 20 - April 11, 2021. Restaurants are encouraged to enroll in the program to highlight an item for their menu. Please note: the use of cherries as an ingredient is not necessary to participate in this promotion.
Cherry Pick: You may highlight a new springtime menu item or a...
December 4, 2020
Everyone needs something to look forward to as we head into 2021 and dining out is a delicious way to welcome in a new year and support local restaurants!
ENTER TO WIN A LOCAL LUXURY GETAWAY!
It's a great time to explore the many dining options we have in our region and enter to win a getaway to the luxurious Salamander Resort and Spa to stay, dine, and enjoy the spa, courtesy of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW).
To Enter:
Dine out, takeout, or get delivery from any three (3) of the...
November 30, 2020
Get your free COVID-19 precautions videos including ServSafe Delivery, ServSafe Takeout, ServSafe Reopening Guidance and ServSafe Conflict De-escalation.
November 30, 2020
Through the ServSafe Dining Commitment, operators pledge to follow four best practices that are effective means for reducing the transmission of COVID-19. Nearly 10,000 restaurants have made the commitment in which they pledge to:
Adhere to the updated COVID-19 Safe Operating Guidance and/or corporate brand guidelines, which are based on CDC, FDA, EPA and OSHA guidelines.
Adhere to the laws and guidelines set by their state and local municipalities.
Commit to a minimum of one person per location with a current ServSafe Food Protection Manager certification....
November 17, 2020
This Guide is a compilation of Thanksgiving menus and offerings that DC-area restaurants proactively shared with RAMW. All offerings listed in our guide are available to-go in some in some capacity, whether that be preordered catering, takeout, delivery, or scheduled pickup.
This list does not capture all restaurant offerings in DC, but it features 50+ restaurants who shared their offerings directly with us for our platforms. In addition to browsing through the options below, we encourage consumers to check in with their local restaurants to see what they are offering....
