NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH CAREERS THROUGH CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM ON NEW INITIATIVE TO BUILD NEW YORK’S HOSPITALITY WORKFORCE

$360,000 Department of Labor Grant Will Support New York City-Based Workforce Development Program to Train Eligible Asylum Seekers for Jobs in Hospitality and Food Service Sectors

Builds on Governor Hochul’s Effort to Help Connect Work-Eligible Migrants and Asylum Seekers with Job Opportunities at New York Businesses 

The New York State Department of Labor today announced a partnership with the Careers Through Culinary Arts Program on a New York City-based initiative to train eligible asylum seekers for roles in the hospitality and food service industries. A $360,000 grant funded by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is providing the opportunity for asylum seekers to receive training through C-CAP’s Career Pathways Program. 

“A certification from the Career Pathways Program gives our newest workers in New York State a lifeline,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “Connecting job seekers with tools for professional success is a fundamental part of what the Department of Labor does. I applaud Governor Kathy Hochul for directing significant resources that not only help asylum seekers, but that eventually position asylum seekers to help themselves.”

C-CAP is a workforce development organization that teaches culinary, life and job skills to more than 22,000 middle-and-high school under-resourced students in 186 schools, as well as the formerly incarcerated. C-CAP’s Career Pathways Program will teach participants valuable food-service industry skills through a five-week hands-on program. The program is located at Francis Lewis High School in Queens, and graduates of this program will receive a New York City Food Handler’s License certification. Following certification, C-CAP will place graduates into entry-level positions within the hospitality industry.

This program builds on an initiative announced by Governor Hochul last year to help work-eligible migrants and asylum seekers in New York find work. In August, the Governor directed NYSDOL to begin connecting businesses with job openings to migrants and asylum seekers who have attained legal work status. To date, NYSDOL has identified more than 40,000 job opportunities at 1,059 New York businesses that are willing to hire asylum seekers and is continuing its outreach to employers statewide.

To learn more about the resources available to job seekers through NYSDOL visit:

• Career Assistance Request Form
• Asylum Seeker Employment Efforts | Department of Labor (ny.gov)
• Language Access for Limited English Proficient New Yorkers | Department of Labor (ny.gov)
• Division of Immigrant Policies and Affairs Services | Department of Labor (ny.gov)

To learn more about the Career Pathways Program, visit the C-CAP website.