After remaining largely dormant for years, an old kitchen facility on the SUNY Orange Newburgh campus has been revitalized for workforce training.
FoodTEC is part of SUNY Orange Plus, the community college’s growing fleet of workforce development programs. It was born under the vision of SUNY Orange President Kristine Young and several former and current board trustees with the aid of grants and donations.
“Today is a very significant milestone in the early life of Orange County FoodTEC, and I am most pleased to celebrate what the college and FoodTEC team have accomplished,” Young said.
Renovations of the kitchen and adjacent dining area with a riverfront view cost around $630,000, with more facility improvements—such as a barista area and classrooms—in the planning stage.
Just weeks ago, the nonprofit started its first culinary arts class and welcomed 14 students, who are now honing skills in the newly rehabbed bakery and main sections in the kitchen.
Most students are between 18 and 24 years old and hail from low-income communities in Middletown and Newburgh, according to FoodTEC Executive Director Jhack Sepulveda at the unveiling ceremony.
“Our mission is to support underserved communities,” Sepulveda said, adding that tuition aid is available for unemployed or working students who make under $25 an hour.
The goal of the 15-week course is to get students employed at the end of the program as entry-level prep cooks, with an average annual salary of $44,500.
In the past summer, 16 students enrolled in FoodTEC’s inaugural course in hospitality and tourism, which focuses on front-of-house skills such as customer service.
Eight students were hired at the end of the 15-week program by local businesses such as Hudson Valley Cheesecake and Pamela’s on the Hudson in Newburgh, and Nilda’s Desserts in Poughkeepsie, according to Sepulveda.
Since last summer, FoodTEC has issued 263 industry-recognized training certificates.
“FoodTEC will not only benefit those who take part, but all of Orange County’s hospitality economy will be strengthened as a result,” said New York state Sen. James Skoufis, who helped secure state funding for part of the renovations.
FoodTEC’s funding comes from, among other places, more than $1 million in federal Community Project Funding, New York state and municipal grants, and a $250,000 donation from Central Hudson.
Last year, one-third of the $5 billion visitor spending in the Hudson Valley region was for food and beverages, followed by service stations and lodging.
Next year, FoodTEC will double its program offerings to four courses and provide new classes in environmental health and food safety, as well as dietitian technician classes through a partnership with one of the largest health care providers in the region.
“Just as we don’t want to build a bridge to nowhere, we can’t have workforce development that does not lead to a good-paying career,” said New York state Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson.
“The way to accomplish this is to make sure that the skills being taught are needed by employees. By working with employers on the curriculum, this program will be successful.”
Jean Leandre, who spearheads SUNY Orange Plus as the college’s vice president for workforce, strategy, and innovation, said, “We will continue strengthening partnerships with industries and ensuring our programs stay at the forefront of industry needs.”
SUNY Orange Plus offers a wide range of continuing and professional education and industry certification courses, as well as classes in high school equivalency and English as a Second Language.
“Let’s keep going forward with FoodTEC. And let’s do the same for health care, information technology, logistics, and artificial intelligence,” Young said.
New York state Sen. Rob Rolison was also present at the unveiling ceremony.
Besides serving as a training facility, the kitchen and dining areas are also available for rental.
