Subject:
Title
Approve Two Agreements to Execute Culinary Careers Collaborative Workforce Program (MOA & MOU)
Body
DATE(S) OF PRIOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE:
January 2024: The Town Council was briefed on the concept during the new initiatives work session.
February 2024: The Town Council received a memorandum providing details about the workforce development program.
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The request to the Town Council's is for the Town Manager to be authorized to sign 1) a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Fairfax to disburse funding for the Culinary Careers Collaborative and 2) a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to initiate the Culinary Careers Collaborative, a workforce development program in partnership with George Mason University (GMU) and the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association, aimed at addressing persistent challenges faced by the food and beverage industry in the Town of Vienna since the pandemic.
Overview:
During the height of the pandemic, the food and beverage industry faced unprecedented challenges including workforce shortages and adapting to new health protocols. Now, in the post-pandemic era, the challenges from the pandemic have remained-including in the Town of Vienna.
To meet the immediate needs of the food and beverage industry, the Town of Vienna and the City of Fairfax are proposing to launch a pilot workforce development in partnership with GMU and the VRLTA.
The initiative includes an accredited certificate program and in-person training for up to 48 individuals living in the Town Vienna, the City of Fairfax, and the surrounding area. The program has three distinct tracks that individuals can choose from to meet a range of career phases-beginner to advanced:
* Track One: Foundational Skills for Beginners
This course focuses on foundational skills such as knife skills and food prep. This session is ideal for individuals without significant culinary experience (from 0 to 1 year).
* ...
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