LTCC Awarded $500k for Culinary Pre-Apprenticeship Program

December 13, 2017

Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) is one of just a handful of educational providers in the state to win a $500,000 grant from the California Apprenticeship Initiative (CAI) to help build and launch culinary pre-apprenticeship programs in South Lake Tahoe. LTCC was recently notified of the award, which will be used to help better prepare South Lake Tahoe’s workforce and to improve local residents’ ability to secure in-demand jobs and progress to higher-wage careers in the Tahoe Basin.

“This is a win-win-win for local business, for LTCC, and for students,” said Sierra-at-Tahoe General Manager John Rice. “It will provide a supply of talent for all food and beverage providers in South Tahoe.”

LTCC will receive $500,000 over two years to create and implement pre-apprenticeship programming, including a heavy focus on expanding the culinary and transition offerings of the ADVANCE network and career center, which is housed at the college.

“Having the right talent in place to execute the vision is absolutely imperative,” said Brandon Reed, General Manager of the Beach Retreat & Lodge at Tahoe. “Talent is a crucial ingredient in the recipe of success for any food and beverage operation.”

The CAI grant will provide the foundation for LTCC’s long-term plan to launch the Tahoe Culinary Academy, a registered apprenticeship program aligned to American Culinary Federation (ACF) standards.

“Our business partners are excited,” said Brad Deeds, Dean of Workforce Development and Instruction at LTCC. “This grant will allow LTCC to provide hands-on skills training and a direct pipeline of skilled culinary workers to our local employers.”

A Hospitality Management program will be the next program developed at the college, also based on the apprenticeship model, according to Deeds. The proposed Hospitality Management program will be designed in alignment with the American Hotel and Lodging Association standards currently being established through a $1.5M investment at the national level.

Apprenticeship is a centuries-old concept that has gotten new life nationally as student needs have shifted. More students are indicating a strong desire to receive hands-on learning, often outside of the classroom setting, to improve their employability after receiving their education. Apprenticeship offers a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction that takes place under the supervision of a journey-level craft person or trade professional. Workers learn practical and theoretical aspects of a highly skilled occupation through hands-on work.

“Sierra-at-Tahoe and our larger South Tahoe resort destination has long needed a program like this that will help build a stable of skilled culinary staff,” said Rice.

For more information about the CAI grant and the culinary apprenticeship program, please contact Brad Deeds at (530) 541-4660 x285, or email deeds@ltcc.edu. Business owners interested in participating in the ADVANCE network and career center can contact ADVANCE Director Frank Gerdeman at (530) 541-4660 x. 238 or at FGerdeman@ltcc.edu.