What happens when a Seattle-based nonprofit and tech giant partner up? Seattle gets five new restaurants and cafes.

 

The eateries, in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood, provide training opportunities for FareStart’s Foodservice Apprenticeship Program, a new initiative to help train entry-level employees in food services. The goal of the program is to assist low-income food-service employees into higher-paying jobs in the restaurant industry.

Amazon donated equipment and 25,000 square feet of space to the nonprofit for the restaurants, which is open to the public.

The venues include Maslow’s, described as a full-service casual restaurant and bar with regionally-sourced ingredients; Community Table, offering “a market-like dining experience” that will be home to three casual eateries — one serving BBQ, one featuring made-to-order salads and another offering seasonal vegetables served in bowls with grains; and Rise, an Italian-themed coffee shop with pastries and sandwiches.

Founded 30 years ago, FareStart provides food for those in need and offers training in food-service and barista jobs for people who struggle to find employment because of homelessness, poverty and other challenges. The nonprofit reports that 90 percent of adults who graduate from their training program find work within three months.

Read the source article at geekwire.com