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Operations and Maryland

Each and every day, RAMW is working on additional financial measures to help the industry, your operations, and your employees.   In addition to the ongoing discussions with elected officials locally, regionally and nationally about relief measures, fixes and additional funding, I have also been working with our partners at Events DC to discuss supplemental support during this very uncertain time.  Earlier today, Events DC, Washington DC’s official convention and sports authority, announced an $18 million hospitality and tourism relief package to address the impact of the...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association As the coronavirus health crisis continues, the restaurant industry remains focused on ensuring the safety of its customers and employees. With the nation battling the coronavirus, restaurateurs have converted their businesses to all off-premises dining to safely serve guests who are social distancing. Larry Lynch, The National Restaurant Association's senior vice president of Certification & Operations, says it’s imperative for operators to continue enforcing their safe food-handling protocols to help protect the...
We know the beautiful weather outside is just a tease as we all wish for crowded restaurants and Nationals opening week to be in play. But here we are, making the best of each day in this current situation. We are inspired everyday by all of you, who continue to keep making the best of each day, and the entire region knows and sees the incredible efforts you are making happen as an industry. Yesterday, I was a guest speaker on District Strong, Federal City Council CEO and Former DC Mayor Anthony Williams' webcast, which brings together government officials and civic leaders who are at...
Hope you had a productive Tuesday with some moments of positivity. We are glad to be sharing positive news this afternoon as we have an employee relief opportunity to activate your restaurant as a community kitchen to support your industry while modestly supporting you as an operator and the food economy.     RAMW Education Foundation and Hook Hall Operator and Employee Relief Model We mentioned previously, and you may have seen in several media outlets, that RAMW launched a Worker Relief Fund through our 501c.3 Education Foundation “Educated Eats” in partnership with...
This week we have three industry briefings and Q&A calls to give you insight in different areas of relief and offer guidance and resources. Please see detaisl below and plan to join those of interest and assistance to you. TODAY, Tuesday 4/7 @ 3:30PM Join us for an industry-wide call with Sean Kennedy, Vice President of Public Affairs and Aaron Frazier Director of Healthcare and Tax Policy at the National Restaurant Association. Many of you have asked what the National Restaurant Association is doing as they gear up for additional requests going into Phase IV.  We have asked Sean...
Dear Operators,    We have updates and developments from around the region.     DC Emergency Legislation Tuesday morning, the DC Council is introducing additional Emergency Legislation intended to address shortfalls from the initial Emergency Legislation, however there are still issues that are not addressed in this second bill, and we will continue to work with the Council to make sure our industry’s needs are met. One of the main issues that was removed from the legislation due to fiscal impact addresses much needed support for undocumented workers...
This past weekend, the Association sent a letter to the National Governors Association and the United States Conference of Mayors thanking them for their help so far and asking for continued support. The letter asks Governors and Mayors to consider the following actions including: Direct Aid to Restaurants and Employees Provide grants to small businesses. Create tax credits with expedited processing for retaining employees during the COVID-19 crisis. Taxes and Fees Delay sales tax remittance for restaurants. Defer property, estimated income, corporate income, and franchise...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Operators need easy and effective ways to stay in touch with socially-distanced employees. The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an age of uncertainty that’s hitting the restaurant industry hard. With social distancing in full swing, it’s more important than ever that restaurant owners and managers stay in touch with their staff in order to keep them in the loop about operations and updated on the state of the business. There’s no shortage of apps and platforms to help keep these teams connected. it’s more...
We have a few updates, reminders and invitations to share with all of you as we head into a new week. First and foremost, we want to remind you of a few resources to lean on as we know this has been a time of significant stress for you and your employees. Feelings of distress and anxiety can take an emotional toll as you are forced to make incredibly difficult decisions each and every day. The CDC stresses the importance of taking care of YOURSELF during this time and following the suggested guidelines below of things you can do to support yourself. Taking care of yourself, your...
On Premises Workplace Infection Control Practices Impacting Employees 1. May Restaurants require employees to provide notes from healthcare providers confirming they can return to work? A: Generally, even If employers do not require disclosure of medical information, they can require notes confirming employees can return to work without violating the ADA because the request would not be disability related. As a practical matter, however, public health authorities have warned that doctors and other health care professionals may be too busy during and immediately after a pandemic outbreak to...
To help navigate the challenges of COVID-19 the James Beard Foundation has been hosting industry support webinars to help provide resources for the hospitality community and to better stay connected throughout difficult times by sharing advice on a range of topics from business and unemployment insurance to marketing in the time of COVID-19 to mental health resources. You can find recordings of last week’s webinars here. Next week’s topics and speakers include: Monday, April 6: Retail Leases and Tenant Rights Cindy McLoughlin (JBF Trustee) and Richard...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Association adds ServSuccess courses to its free offerings to support restaurant employees and help them return to the industry with advanced skills. Homebound restaurant employees have the opportunity to use this time to upskill – for free – thanks to the National Restaurant Association ServSafe and ServSuccess programs as well as American Hotel & Lodging Foundation. The ServSuccess online learning suites provide training on the skills and knowledge the industry identifies as essential...
Original content c/o: Streetsense Place-based organizations focused on economic development such as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have long played an integral role in enhancing delivery of public services and providing other innovative, market-informed tools and services to local businesses within their defined service area boundaries. Now more than ever these organizations are engaged in problem-solving and tackling unprecedented business environment challenges, alongside municipalities and private sector collaborators across the country. BIDs are also thinking outside the box for...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Your access to coronavirus relief will require documentation, the key to any successful business continuity/financial recovery plan. Keeping records is probably the last thing you’re thinking about while you try to figure out ways to keep your doors — or at least your drive-thru window — open during the coronavirus crisis. But documents and records may be the things that help you most in securing loans and grant money to tide you over until the crisis passes. Now is the time to gather documents and start tracking...
In this morning’s message, we mentioned creating an anchoring message as we enter into the Congressional Phase IV of relief. If you have not done so already, please email coronavirus@ramw.org to provide feedback as to what you think should be included in the Phase IV relief outside of what we already know. For more information on what we are already working on, click here.  We have received a few requests from our restaurant community for access to masks and gloves.  At this time local health authorities are not requiring full time use of masks and gloves, however we do...
Washington, DC – Clyde’s Restaurant Group and Founding Farmers announce today the launch of Food it Forward MD, an initiative to support the hard-hit restaurant industry and provide quality food to vulnerable populations, first responders, and frontline health care workers in Montgomery & Howard counties. Through Food It Forward MD, the public can purchase delivery meals packaged by local restaurants. Meals will be distributed to Maryland frontline health care workers, first responders, and to those in need by community partners like Bethesda Cares,...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association As Covid-19 rages on, telemedicine is a viable treatment option, while access to discounted prescriptions is always a great benefit. The National Restaurant Association is offering two programs to help members and their employees stay healthy and safe. Through its new partner, Healthiest You, the Association is making a telemedicine option available to its members. The service is $7/month per employee. There are no co-pays, and all family members can use the service. The National Restaurant Association is offering members access to...
Yesterday, the Montgomery County Council passed legislation that provides $20 million in grants for businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Small businesses with 100 employees or fewer will now be able to apply to earn checks of up to $75,000 from the county’s new “Public Health Emergency Grant Program.” An amendment is being introduced to reserve a quarter of the funding pool for restaurants and retailers. Grant funding must be used for employee wages and benefits, taxes, debt, rent or other operating losses during the public health emergency. We will share...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association Here’s what you need to do to take advantage of loans available through the coronavirus relief bill. The coronavirus relief package known as the CARES Act signed into law March 27 by President Trump will make low-cost loans available to you to help get you through the economic hardship caused by the pandemic. Check with your accountant or tax advisor to see which of the loan programs provides greater benefits and lower risks to your business. The two loan programs are Small Business Administration’s existing Economic...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association As Covid-19 rages on, telemedicine is a viable treatment option, while access to discounted prescriptions is always a great benefit. The National Restaurant Association is offering two programs to help members and their employees stay healthy and safe. Through its new partner, Healthiest You, the Association is making a telemedicine option available to its members. The service is $7/month per employee. There are no co-pays, and all family members can use the service. Those interested in participating in the telemedicine option can...
Today we need your input as we continue our local and national advocacy efforts for relief for our industry. We know the relief outlined in the CARES Act does not go far enough to support restaurants, and that implementation is flawed when applied to our unique industry.  It is important to note that while drafting Phase III (CARES Act), Congress always knew there would be a Phase IV of relief, so some relief measures and issues were punted to Phase IV. They also neglected to consider how long a business may be disrupted to reflect timelines and look backs that are relevant as it...
As we come to the end of the day, we want to share updates from around the region in the form of relief and clarity.  But first, we want to acknowledge that we are fully aware that there are some serious flaws in the relief programs outlined by the CARES Act.  We are working daily with state partners around the country and our national partners to collect those concerns and create a coordinated ask as we go into phase IV of relief.  Our intention is to ensure issues are addressed, corrected and reflected as this package is being refined. In the meantime, we want to offer...
Original content c/o: Streetsense During a time when the majority of the globe’s citizens are staying home, destination marketers find themselves wondering how to forge on with their day-to-day operations sans visitors. Despite near-empty hotels and airports, never have we collectively experienced a greater need for destination marketers to seize their natural leadership potential and gather their community to come together for the benefit of the common good. In the wake of these unprecedented times, we’re sharing three crucial best practices for all destination marketers. Don...
Original content c/o: National Restaurant Association If you need to close down operations until the coronavirus runs its course, do it safely so you’re ready to open for business when that happy day arrives. As of April 1, some 270 million people — three fourths of the entire U.S. population — are living their lives under some form of COVID-19 stay-at-home order. That means, among other things, that dining in restaurants has been put on hold. With millions of people living under some kind of COVID-19 stay-at-home order now, many restaurants are facing the...
Dear Operator,    As we close out another busy day, we want to address some questions we have received from all of you and share helpful new guidance on the Federal relief front.    Applying for loans through SBA We have received NEW GUIDANCE today from the Small Business Administration that you ARE able to apply for both a PPP loan and an EIDL, however they cannot be used for the same purpose.  For example, you cannot use an EIDL loan to cover payroll during the same time period your PPP loan covers payroll. The different loan applications should identify...

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