THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2024

Mayor Johnson Opens Bid for O'Hare Concessions

Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Aviation announced the bid opportunity for 112 concessions at Terminals 1 and 3 at O'Hare International Airport. Of these 112 concession locations, 75 will be food and beverage. 10% of the available space is also reserved for small businesses.

Interested applicants can attend an optional pre-proposal meeting on Monday, September 30 at 10am at the Hilton Chicago O'Hare Airport, which will be followed by a networking event from 11am until noon. This pre-proposal meeting will also offer a remote option.

The final date to submit questions about the RFP is Friday, November 8, 2024. Proposals are due by Wednesday, January 15, 2025.

Click here to read the press release from the City of Chicago Office of the Mayor.

Click here for resources and information on how to submit a bid.

Hospitality Industry Roundtable Recap

Thank you to everyone who attended our hospitality roundtable last Thursday, August 29. We heard from Senator Robert Peters, Alderman Desmon Yancy, and John Wober of Chicago Hospitality Partners. A big thank you to our speakers, the TrueNorth Cafe team, and the Cook County Small Business Source for making this event possible!

Be sure to be on the lookout for our upcoming roundtable in Glenview on Thursday, October 10. More details will be available soon!

Chicago Gourmet Tickets and Silent Auction

Chicago Gourmet tickets are on sale! This event, which is one of the nation's top culinary festivals, will take place from September 21-29. With the IRA as the founding sponsor and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits as the presenting sponsor, this year's theme for the culinary extravaganza is "Fashion, Plated"—a celebration of the seamless fusion of food and fashion.

If you haven't already, get your Chicago Gourmet tickets now. But hurry - they're selling fast!

We also need your help securing or donating items to the Chicago Gourmet Auction. 100% of auction proceeds go towards:

• Student ProStart programs: ProStart is in 50 high schools throughout Illinois and benefits 3,800 culinary and hospitality students in the state.
• Scholarships: We have given away $3.4 million to date.
• Cash relief grants: Since October 2020, we've given away $295,000 to hospitality employees facing a financial crisis.

Click here to donate an auction item.

Webinar: Workers' Comp and Beyond - Insurance Insights for Restaurants

Join the Illinois Restaurant Association, One Digital, and the Cook County Small Business Source for an insightful webinar where we’ll discuss how the tip credit impacts workers’ compensation premiums, discover strategies to avoid unexpected premiums from end of year audits, and dive into coverages that are often overlooked by operators that may leave them exposed.

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024

Time: 10:00am CT

**Este seminario web se transmitirá en inglés y español.**

**此网络研讨会有中英双语放送选项**

Register for the webinar here.

Apply for the Good Food Fund Grant

Round 2 of the Good Food Fund Grant is now open! The program provides grants between $10,000 and $100,000 to eligible entrepreneurs. Applicants must be in the food and beverage industry (growers, distributors, manufacturers, and grocers are strongly encouraged to apply), located in Chicago, hold a food and beverage business license (or apply for one), have filed a federal tax return in 2023, and have a business bank account. Grants will be prioritized based on a list of equitable criteria.

The grant is made possible by Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City of Chicago Business Affairs and Consumer Protection and administered by Allies for Community Business. Find detailed criteria and apply for the Good Food Fund Grant here. And hurry - the deadline to apply is September 13!

Cook County Community Voices Survey

The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) has been funding community programs since the pandemic, but in 2026 this funding will end.

Those who live or work in Cook County are invited to fill out a community survey between August 1-September 13, 2024. Responses to the survey will help Cook County learn more about your priorities and concerns. The results from this survey will inform the development of the County’s long-term ARPA programs.

Click here to access the survey.

IRA New Member Spotlight

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