LLCC hosted a National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) apprenticeship accelerator meeting yesterday, Sept. 24, in Bistro Verde to introduce the nation’s first restaurant management apprenticeship program to interested restaurant employers in the Springfield area. Caroline Eckert, manager of program development, NRAEF, spoke to 24 individuals in attendance who learned about the employer-driven training program.

The NRAEF conducts apprenticeship accelerator meetings across the country to explain how the program works and demonstrate how it can address restaurant industry challenges to find and retain top talent.

In 2016, the NRAEF and the American Hotel & Lodging Association received a $1.8 million contract from the U.S. Department of Labor to develop the first-ever federally registered hospitality sector apprenticeship program. The program places individuals in paid apprenticeships focused on management-level positions across the hospitality and food service industries, translating into increased skills, higher wages, recognized credentials and a career advancement plan.