Back in February, Greenville Technical College announced its partnership with The Furman Co. to create the Center for Culinary and Hospitality Innovation (CHI).

The center’s goals:

✔️Meet workforce needs within the growing restaurant + hospitality industry

✔️and bring economic opportunities to the citizens of West Greenville.

The college has had this project in the works for a while, starting talks with The Furman Co. in 2016. With this new center, Greenville Tech will be the anchor tenant of Poe West on Perry Ave. The location was important to them, wanting to foster economic growth in a low- and moderate-income community with residents who can benefit from the high concentration of jobs in the downtown area.

With an anticipated 2020 opening, CHI will offer:

Job training: Greenville Tech’s Quick Jobs with a Future program boasted an 80% job placement rate in 2018.
Quick Jobs courses: Including Server Training, Bartending, Baking, Butchering 101, Knife Skills + more.
Personal interest courses: Like Garden to Table, Agriculture and Nutrition, and Holiday Preparation.
Summer camps: For high school students + graduates, plus special training for West Greenville School students.
Affordability: Through its partnership with SC Works, Greenville Tech can offer training at CHI at no cost or low cost to students. Workforce Pathways Scholarships are also available.

CHI also plans to offer incubator space for small business + event rental space – more details on those coming soon. Naming and investing opportunities are still available to support the initiative. Ⓟ