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July 26, 2021
Washington, DC (July 26, 2021)—Industry professionals and their fans gathered this afternoon as Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced finalists for the 2021 RAMMY Awards, the winners of which will be announced on Sunday, September 19, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Special for this year only, many stakeholders came together to identify categories that speak to 2020 and the myriad of challenges, unforeseen hurdles, and opportunities that arose to let creativity shine.
Recognizing that it would not be fair to assess the industry on...
July 23, 2021
DDOT just announced streatry permits are extended through Monday, February 28, 2022. Applicants do not need to take any action as DDOT will automatically extend the valid permits to the above date. Please see the release text below and I'm attaching the doc as well.
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) today announced it will extend the temporary Streatery Program and associated public space permits through Monday, February 28, 2022. This is expected to continue assisting businesses still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those...
July 21, 2021
We know that hiring and retaining employees is the largest challenge facing restaurant owners today. The video below features Chris Floyd, President and Founder of Capital Restaurant Resources. Learn from his experience how to deal with hiring issues for today and the future.
Keep up to date with the latest industry trends and issues! Register for the "Changing Strategies for Changing Times" program to receive video interviews that will make a difference in running your restaurant!
If you have questions regarding the "Changing Strategies for Changing Times"...
July 20, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Avery Meetre, LRA PR
avery@lindarothpr.com
202-369-4954
RAMW Highlights Metropolitan Washington Summer Restaurant Week Offerings
Signature promotion offers something for everyone and exciting new restaurants this August
Washington, DC (July 20, 2021)—Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) announced today the roster of restaurants participating in Summer Restaurant Week from Monday, August 9, to Sunday, August 15. The signature summer dining event returns to a one-week promotion with Restaurant Week diners able to enjoy three-course...
July 20, 2021
They say that “change is good.” And while switching to Kaiser Permanente should be a seamless experience, any organizational change can be disruptive and spark many questions – especially when the change involves something as important as health care. The good news is that there are ways to minimize that disruption so employees can feel good about the change and stay focused on doing their job. In a recent blog post, we shared tips employers can use to leverage best practices in change management.
July 19, 2021
Don’t let refrigeration run up your energy costs!
Refrigeration equipment for small businesses like convenience stores and restaurants can account for as much as 60% of electricity consumption.
From now until Sept 15, 2021, the DCSEU will cover up to 100% of materials cost for fan replacements for coolers and freezers as well as door heater controls on glass door refrigerators and freezers. The overall energy savings will make up for the cost of the installation. The new installation will not only reduce energy costs but could extend the life of your equipment.
...
July 16, 2021
Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, announced its upcoming Summer Concert Series. With four back-to-back nights of live entertainment, Events DC is leading the charge in the return of live music and large-scale events, safely hosting crowds of up to 3,000 at Entertainment & Sports Arena.
The Summer Concert Series will kick off on Thursday, July 22 with Grammy-nominated artist Robert Randolph and The Family Band , followed by DC-based go-go group Junkyard Band on Friday, July 23, beloved...
July 15, 2021
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: July 15, 2021
Contact: Adam Hudson: (202) 527-5622; adam.hudson@dc.gov
Linda Wharton Boyd: (202) 351-9777; linda.wharton-boyd@dc.gov
Washington, DC –The DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority (DCHBX) Executive Board voted to adopt recommendations from its Social Justice and Health Disparities Working Group, in an effort to stop racism in health care. These recommendations are focused on three crucial areas in order to establish practices, structures, and policies that can be implemented by DCHBX...
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
Effective at 5:00 a.m. on Friday, May 21, 2021, many substantive restrictions and requirements imposed by previous Mayor’s Orders and ABC Board rulemakings to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 will be lifted. Additionally, select activities such as pub crawls and extended holiday hours, that were temporarily suspended due to the public health emergency may resume.
Full modifications are detailed in Mayor’s Order 2020-069, related ABC Board emergency rulemakings, and on ABRA’s website.
Additionally, ABRA will host a virtual public...
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,...
May 14, 2021
DC residents can potentially save thousands of dollars per year on health insurance premiums through the American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Biden.
Savings of nearly $36 million in premiums for DC residents this year;
Plans as little as $2/month for residents who lost their jobs;
Monthly savings average $146 a month for residents who have already provided their income information to DC Health Link;
100% payment of COBRA for laid off workers through September;
District residents can go to DCHealthLink.com right now to preview their premium savings and enroll in a...
May 5, 2021
Through Giveaway, 51 winners are Eligible to Receive $500 to $25,000 to Support Local Businesses
(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development, in partnership with Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, launched the DC SHOP, EAT, PLAY, STAY giveaway to encourage residents and visitors from Maryland and Virginia to take advantage of all the District has to offer and support businesses and workers as we move closer to a better normal. Through the...
April 29, 2021
District of Columbia Building Industry Association (DCBIA) to Provide In-Kind Design and General Contracting Services for Your Existing or Proposed Streatery!
Apply Today! This application will take you just 2 minutes to complete.
DCBIA is a non-profit professional trade association representing the Washington, DC real estate development industry. The association comprises professionals of nearly 500 member companies representing owners, developers, general contractors, architects, designers, engineers, attorneys, banks and other organizations in the real estate development industry....
April 28, 2021
RAMW has joined with FoodPro and CORE Restaurant Marketing to share with you a new restaurant education initiative, “Changing Strategies for Changing Times.” This educational series will be available free for all RAMW members and will cover important topics that will help you increase your sales and lower your food costs.
Beginning in May, “Changing Strategies for Changing Times” will be available on the RAMW website and will be shared with members. The series will include monthly installments of videos, best practices from industry experts, and surveys on...
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...
April 9, 2021
National Restaurant Association: FAQ's Restaurant Revitalization Grants
On March 11, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 created the $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund to provide grants for restaurants sustaining financial losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is administering the program, and will be issuing the necessary federal rules, regulations, and applications before grant funds are distributed. This frequently asked questions (FAQ) resource will be updated as the SBA releases information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund...
April 5, 2021
In collaboration with DC Health Link, the District’s online health insurance marketplace, RAMW recently hosted a webinar on the current options available to small businesses that have had changes in business operations affecting their ability to offer or maintain employer sponsored health coverage and for individuals who may be losing or have lost health insurance coverage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Including the newly added options that are part of the American Rescue Plan that also lowers premiums for District residents. View the recorded webinar here.
