The Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development (CEWD) at Hostos Community College announces a $500,000 award from the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) in collaboration with the Food and Beverage Industry Partnership to run First Course NYC.
First Course NYC is a no-cost apprenticeship program that prepares participants for careers as restaurant line cooks at mid- to high-end restaurants in New York City. Under the initiative, two cohorts of 25 students per year participate in an intensive 14-week program. The hands-on experience includes an eight-week culinary training led by a respected local chef and a six-week paid apprenticeship at partner restaurants 701 West, JoJo, Perry Street, Balaboosta, Dirt Candy, Momofuku, Lafayette, Leuca, Little Park, The Loyal, Mercer Kitchen, The Smith, Little Beet Table, Parm, Sadelle’s, and Dig Inn.
First Course NYC apprentices will receive a $25 per day stipend during the training period and a $16 per hour salary during their apprenticeship. Also, participants will get two chef coats, a seven-piece knife set, and a weekly MetroCard. Upon successful completion of the program, they will also earn an NYC Food Protection certificate and be connected to full-time employment as a restaurant line cook.
“This venture is directly in line with the Division of Continuing Education & Workforce Development’s ‘Get Trained, Get Hired’ mantra, and is specifically targeting an industry that has seen strong under-representation of New York’s own citizens,” explained Alexander Seki, CEWD Assistant Director. “By piloting this program, the goal is to help owners and head chefs of these partner establishments to seek to fill vacancies through Hostos’ First Course NYC training initiative.”
Apply for the First Course NYC apprenticeship program
here. Recruitment for cohort 2 begins in February 2020.
About Division of Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD)
The Division of CEWD at Hostos Community College offers educational, career, and personal development opportunities designed to address the needs of the Bronx and Upper Manhattan communities. Hostos’ CEWD offers non-credit courses and certificate programs for adults, children and teens on weekday evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Adult Learning Center is a free grant-funded program designed for people seeking to improve their reading, writing, and math abilities and/or prepare for post-secondary educational opportunities. The Adult Learning Center offers classes in reading, math, reading in Spanish, English as a Second Language, and pre-HSE/HSE. CEWD serves over 10,000 students a year. To learn more visit
Continuing Education and Workforce Development.