Newburgh - Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana is pleased to announce the opening of Fresh Start Café, a new Employment Training Program located at 280 Broadway in the City of Newburgh. Over the past four years, the Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Employment and Training Agency (ETA), along with the Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP) have collaborated on the development of practical workforce training opportunities for welfare recipients. With a goal of providing welfare recipients with real-life work experience to prepare them for future employment, Orange County has launched the Café as a micro-business to provide welfare recipients with important hands-on training.
Working together, these organizations opened the first Fresh Start Café in Middletown in January 2007. Mr. Diana, both a former teacher and restaurant owner, praised the program for its success in using on-the-job training to help welfare recipients acquire skills and experience that will put them on the road to long-term independence.
"Traditional classroom training provides our welfare recipients with an introduction to the basic skills necessary for employment. However, the real success and long-term results come from the experience of actually doing the job," said Mr. Diana. "The County’s Fresh Start Cafés provide those in need with access to job skills that might otherwise be difficult for them to obtain," continued Mr. Diana.
Conveniently located in 280 Broadway’s Neighborhood Resource Center, the Fresh Start Café" is a full-service café offering freshly prepared meals both on site and by delivery throughout the City of Newburgh. A professionally trained chef, prep-cook, and food and hospitality expert lead the café’s management and training team. It is staffed by welfare to work recipients who are interested in gaining the experience necessary to find employment in the food service industry.
Trainees are taught all aspects of the food service industry, including food preparation, service delivery, and customer service as they assist café patrons.
"The Fresh Start Cafés benefit our welfare recipient clients by giving them much sought after job experience. Orange County restaurants and caterers benefit by having access to highly-trained, experienced staff who are ready to do the job from day one of their employment," said David Jolly, Orange County Commissioner of Social Services. "The success of the Middletown Fresh Start Café has already opened doors for many welfare recipients as they transition from welfare to work," continued Commissioner Jolly. "The opening of the Newburgh location offers trainees an opportunity close to home that will help them rise above the constraints of poverty and enter the workforce once again."
The first session of trainees is already under way at the Newburgh location and the café will open for business on August 16, 2010.
"We are truly excited to offer this amazing vocational service in a City that needs opportunities for advancement in order to help welfare recipients break the cycle of dependence," said Carol Kobetitsch, Café Manager and Director of Trainee Development. "I encourage local residents to check out these two very worthwhile endeavors."
Hours for the Newburgh Fresh Start Café are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To place an order, schedule delivery, or discuss catering services, please call (845) 863-0100.
