Welcome to our January edition of the Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association newsletter! We're excited to bring you a selection of opportunities and events designed to inspire, educate, and connect. Inside this issue, you'll find exclusive information on upcoming events, details on grant opportunities that could support your business, and much more!

 

Happy Lunar New Year! MARA wishes everyone a year full of prosperity, good health and many happiness. 

On Tuesday January 21st, 2025, MARA Board and Advisory Board members, as well as some restaurant members, got together to mark the Lunar New Year. Co-founder and Co-President Andy Kuang addressed the group and shared his vision of making MARA the backbone of Asian restaurants via support in areas such as government policy environment, food safety counseling and training, and fund sourcing, to name a few. Mr. Kuang also indicated that MARA’s effort in the new year will be directed at deepening collaboration with other Asian communities and organizations through co-sponsoring events. There is a lot to look forward to; stay tuned.

 

Mr. Kuang presented the Letter of Appointment to Advisory Board member, Mr. Nam Pham. A long time community activist, Mr. Pham brought to MARA a wealth of experience from various levels of business, community and government administration. He is a former banker, Harvard scholar, a gubernatorial appointee of the highest level for an Asian American in Massachusetts. Mr. Pham shared his engaging passion to spread the wisdom of Asian culture through foods.

 

Still uplifting was when Mr. Pan Fei recounted his case with the Food Safety inspection. His was an example of standing his ground when believing he was right and taking the trouble to go through the humdrum of bureaucracy in order to prevail. Mr. Pan demonstrated his resolve to protect his legal right and make his voice heard, a pioneering act in the Asian community from which many helpful future references may be drawn.

 

For more detail, please read the report by SingtaoUSA, link below:

 

 

More informative, inspirational small talks were exchanged at the gathering. The steaming rice noodle soups were perfect to compliment on such a cold winter day; and they were absolutely delicious. Thank you, Mr. Bin Lin, for hosting the gathering. Those of you who can benefit from a heaty warm-up in such a winter cold, visit Mr. Lin’s Dagu Rice Noodle at 663 Hancock St. Quincy, 02170.

 

A few guests couldn’t make it at the last minute. We miss you, and hope to catch up with you at the next occasion. We thank all who have rooted for MARA, directly and indirectly. Helping Asian restaurants to strengthen and flourish will continue to be our unwavering commitment. Here’s to prosperity for all.

The New England Restaurant & Bar Show is the region’s premier event for restaurant owners, bar operators, chefs, hospitality professionals, and industry suppliers. This event brings together top foodservice experts, vendors, and emerging trends to help businesses thrive in the evolving hospitality landscape.

 

Attend the Show
Whether you’re a restaurant owner, bar operator, or hospitality professional, this event is designed to provide insights, resources, and connections to help your business grow. Registration includes access to all exhibits, seminars, and networking events.

 

Register as a Vendor
Showcase your products and services to thousands of decision-makers in the food and beverage industry. As an exhibitor, you’ll gain direct access to potential buyers, increase brand visibility, and connect with key industry influencers. Booth spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended.

Immigration policies affecting the restaurant industry are expected to change significantly in 2025. The National Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Law Center are working with Fisher Phillips to provide updates and guidance. A webinar on workplace immigration compliance will be held on February 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET to help restaurants prepare.

 

For questions, contact Angelo Amador (aamador@restaurant.org) or Jordan Heiliczer (jheiliczer@restaurant.org).

The 119th Congress has now been sworn in and our efforts to pass the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) at the Federal level will continue. While the legislation has not yet been re-introduced by the National Restaurant Association, we are continuing to build a broad base of support for the CCCA from all 50 states. The issue continues to gain traction in the media, especially on the heels of Visa’s estimated $100 million increase in swipe fees effective January 1st.

 

You may recall that the Coalition has sent a few support letters in the past signed by businesses operating within the state and have been told by Congressional offices that those letters are one of the most compelling demonstrations of support they’ve received on CCCA. As such, we urge you to sign on to this letter by clicking on this link: Company Support for the Credit Card Competition Act.

 

It’s a simple process of listing your company name and the state in which your company operates so that we have signatories ready to go when we send additional state-specific letters to Senators urging their support for the bill. 

MARA has partnered with Potencia to offer affordable, one-on-one English tutoring sessions tailored for adult immigrants. These 10-week online programs provide personalized learning, real-life conversation practice, and flexible schedules. At just $5 per session ($50 for 10 sessions), participants receive 1-hour individual lessons with an additional discount available for MARA members.

 

Interested individuals can apply online below or text (617) 580-0176 for more details. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve English skills in a supportive, affordable environment!

Celebrate the Spring Festival with the Brookline Chinese Association at a festive gala featuring delicious food, exciting talent performances, and fun activities for the community.

 

Date & Time:
February 2, 2025 (Fifth day of the Lunar New Year)
4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

 

Location:
Michael Driscoll School Auditorium
725 Washington St, Brookline, MA 02446

 

Join on February 8, 2025, for the Holliston Lunar New Year Potluck Celebration at Sam Placentino Elementary School, 235 Woodland St., Holliston, MA 01746.

The event kicks off at 5:00 PM with a Holiday Fair, followed by dinner at 6:00 PM, and performances from 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM.

 

Families are encouraged to participate in the potluck by bringing 1-2 dishes to share, enough to cover their own family. Please indicate the number of attendees when participating.

 

Tickets can be purchased by scanning the QR codes for Zelle or Venmo on the flyer. For more information, call 781-401-1762. 

Grant & Program Opportunities

(Rolling Deadline) Amber Grant - Women's Net gives away at least $30,000 every month in Amber Grant money. In recognition of the diversity of businesses owned by women, they've also expanded their grant-giving to include Marketing Grants, Business Category Grants, as well as two $25,000 Year End Grants.

 

(Rolling Deadline) Free LLC Formation for Moms - Zenbusiness is giving every mom in America the ability to start an LLC for free, plus the cost of your state fee.  

Founded in 2018, Massachusetts Asian Restaurant Association (MARA) is a non-profit corpo­ration registered at Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It formed a partnership with Massachu­setts Restaurant Association (MRA) in 2020. MARA provides Asian restaurant businesses the resources and guidance needed to advance in the industry. MARA is a platform connecting Asian restaurant members with professional service providers as well as relevant governmental entities to enhance the communication collaboration and mutual benefits. Visit ma-ara.org to join or learn more.