As the hospitality and culinary arts industries look to create a more environmentally friendly atmosphere for their workers and patrons, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Overland Park, Kansas, has been awarded a grant to help students train in sustainable practices for restaurants and hotels. The school has been given a $63,700 EngeryWorks KC Green Jobs Workforce Development grant from the Mid-America Regional Council to launch a green internship program for students looking to add a hospitality management certificate to their resume. Under the program, students will be trained in best practices for saving energy and water, reducing waste, composting and pollution reduction and will help establishments identify how to implement the practices, as well as track their cost savings after implementation. JCCC Dean Lindy Robinson said the program is a great opportunity for both students and industry professionals. "It is so important that we start getting serious about measures that help the environment with a benefit of saving money for the restaurateurs and hoteliers," Robinson added. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for food service managers are expected to grow by 5% through 2018 and may be best for those with a 2- or 4-year degree on their resume in a related field. |