Description
Project Welcome is CEWD's employment-driven training initiative. Launched in February 2007, the program was made possible by a U.S. Department of Labor grant awarded to Kingsborough to train New York City Residents in Tourism and Hospitality. In addition Project Welcome received additional support from the New York City Department of Small Business Services. Currently Project Welcome has a budget of 2.1 million dollars. The program is free-of-charge and is open to the unemployed population, career changers and those genuinely interested in hospitality and food production. It is the first-of-its-kind to be offered at KCC by the Center for Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education.

Project Welcome offers three training programs: Hospitality Operations and Management, Hospitality Event and Meeting Planning and Food Service Operations Training Program. The 10-to-12 week programs include certification test fees, books and supplies, internship opportunities and assistance with job placement.

Course Work
Students are carefully selected through an intensive screening and interview process. Only qualified students committed to employment upon completion of the training are accepted. Students must have an attendance rate of 97% or above in order to successfully achieve a CUNY Kingsborough Certificate of Completion.

Once accepted into the program students receive intensive hands-on training and certification specific to each program. Each training program is comprised of three modules: content, certification and employment module. The trainings are meant to introduce students to their field of interest, prepare them for the certification exams and equip them for employment. The modules are composed of six-part package.

Food Service Operations Training Program
The 10 week program includes 2 college level courses which provide an introduction to professional food service and restaurant operations. Courses cover everything from food safety and sanitation to customer service. Training involves more than 60 hours in the kitchen laboratory, 4 certification exams (ServSafe Food Safety Manager Certification, Certified Food Handler from NYC Department of Health, Food Production ManageFirst Certification, NRAEF Customer Service Certification), and Virtual Enterprise Cyber Hotel training in which students develop their soft skills and their familiarity with industry specific software.

Hospitality Operations and Management Training Program
The 12 week program includes 2 college level courses which provide an introduction to hotel operations and tourism. Courses cover everything from introduction to hospitality industry technology applications to customer service. Training involves more than 72 lecture hours, 2 certification exams (NRAEF Hospitality Management Certification - ManageFirst and NRAEF Customer Service Certification), and Virtual Enterprise Cyber Hotel training in which students develop their soft skills and their familiarity with industry specific software.

Hospitality Event and Meeting Planning Training Program
The 12 week program includes 2 college level courses which provide an overview of the basic essentials and elements of meeting and event planning as well as the principles of professional selling. Courses cover everything from creating a marketing plan to customer service. Training involves more than 72 lecture hours, 3 certification exams (Cruise Lines International Counselor Accreditation and NRAEF Customer Service Certification, The Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality (SATH) Certification ), and Virtual Enterprise Cyber Hotel training in which students develop their soft skills and their familiarity with industry specific software.

How to Apply
Contact the Center for Economic and Workforce Development for the further information at 718-368-5568. You must attend an information session in order to apply, test and interview for admission into the program.

You must have the following documents:
1. Resume
2. High School Diploma or GED (For Hospitality Trainings only)
3. Proof of NYC residency
4. Employment Eligibility Documents

EMPLOYERS
Graduates of the program demonstrate enthusiasm and flexibility and are eager to gain employment within the industry. They have the fundamental skills necessary to join the workforce. We are seeking employers who will provide our students with internship and/or employment opportunities. Please share information about our qualified graduates with your Human Resources director. Please have your HR director contact us with job opportunities and descriptions to offer our students.

Some of the employers that have partnered with us have been:

B.R. Guest Restaurants, Whole Foods Market, Sodexho Beekman, Tower Hotel, Hotel La Bleu, IKEA, Crowne Plaza Hotel, ARAMARK, Star Staffing Services, Circle Line, and Applebees

For a full list of employers please click here

Project Welcome is an Equal Opportunity Program. Auxiliary aides and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. This project was funded in part by a grant awarded under the President's Community Based Job Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration.