Looking to address high levels of unemployment and a poverty rate of 40% in Flint, MI, Mott Community College’s (MCC) Culinary Arts Institute sought to double its enrollment, thereby providing local residents much-needed career opportunities. The question they faced was, how to keep tuition affordable while raising the funding needed to build a bigger facility?
The answer came from a successful public-private partnership – the federal New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) – that brought a major financial investment to make this community-led project possible.
MCC partnered with a local nonprofit, the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, to repurpose the 100-year-old Woolworth Building, an abandoned and vacant structure in downtown Flint. They also received strong philanthropic support – including the donation of the building by the C.S. Mott Foundation and several multimillion-dollar grants, including a $1.5 million grant from the State of Michigan. These grants helped leverage a difference-making $9 million NMTC investment from Cinnaire.
MCC was able to significantly increase its number of students, providing students with the opportunity to complete an associate degree in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts, Food Service Management, or to complete a one-year certificate in Professional Cooking or Professional Baking.
The 36,000 sq ft space houses 4 teaching kitchens, educational classrooms, kitchen and food preparation areas, a restaurant, and a cafe. Students are taught by award-winning executive chefs and food service professionals while gaining real-world experience onsite. Weekend classes are also open to youths and adults in the community.
The new facility allows graduates to procure steady employment, create new, high-quality jobs, and spur additional revitalization in downtown Flint, an area designated as the city’s Health and Wellness district.
NMTC Impact in Flint
- Mott Community College redeveloped a vacant and historic building in Flint.
- Expanded their culinary arts training program for residents in this region of high unemployment.
- The new facility served as a catalyst, spurring revitalization efforts in downtown Flint.
NMTC Impact in Michigan
- Brought nearly $3 billion in capital.
- Created over 29,000 jobs.
- Supported a wide range of projects, from early childhood education centers to manufacturing initiatives, contributing to the state’s economic growth and community development.