Hartford Nonprofit Earns Grant To Train Culinary Workers

Jacques Pépin Foundation

HARTFORD, CT — A Rhode Island-based foundation specializing in promoting culinary careers has donated cash to help a Hartford nonprofit train future restaurant industry staff.

The Jacques Pépin Foundation last month announced that Forge City Works was one of its Winter 2025 Grant Awardees.

One of 16 recipients this round, Forge City Works, a Hartford-based nonprofit, serves people in the Hartford community who have barriers to employment by providing job training in the food and hospitality industry to help them achieve sustainable careers.

According to the foundation, Forge City Works will use the grant to help convert the former café space, which was relocated to the Fire by Forge restaurant next door, into a flexible and functional training center.

The site will feature culinary demos, interactive sessions, classroom lectures, and more.

The renovated space will also enable Forge City Works to increase the number of participants at public cooking classes.

In addition to the $10,000 grant, Forge City Works will receive foundation-branded aprons for its students and group membership to the foundation.

In the last five years, the Barrington, R.I.,-based foundation has given more than $1.6 million to over 70 different non-profit, community-based, culinary arts training programs.

“The JPF’s mission is realized in part by supporting programs that create opportunities through culinary training, and giving grants to these important local organizations,” said Rollie Wesen, executive director of the foundation.

“Forge City Works is a shining example of how culinary training can transform lives and strengthen communities. Forge City Works was an early partner of the JPF’s and hosted a hands-on culinary technique teaching day in 2019.

"In addition to their successful culinary job training programs, their social enterprise model provides hands-on learning and serves the community through initiatives like The Kitchen Cafe, Fire by Forge, a fresh foods market, catering services, and more."

"We are deeply grateful to the Jacques Pépin Foundation for their generous support of our mission at Forge City Works,” said Ben Dubow, executive director of Forge City Works. “This grant will allow us to upgrade our training classroom and kitchen, creating a more dynamic and professional environment for our trainees to learn and grow.

"Together, we are empowering individuals to overcome barriers and build sustainable careers in the food and hospitality industry, while strengthening our community through the power of food."

Founded in 2016, the Jacques Pépin Foundation focuses on teaching and inspiring all people to cook. To support the foundation or learn more visit this link.