This 14-Week Program Will Teach You How To Operate A Food Truck Business
Do you want to operate your own food truck business?
Miami Dade College, Brightline and the Neighbors And Neighbors Association have teamed up to launch the Miami-Dade County Food Truck Enterprise Program, a free 14-week, competition-style course that can help you do that.
The initiative will start on Sept. 13 and run through Dec. 17. It will teach students about marketing strategies, entrepreneurship, restaurant service, food safety and sanitation for the start-up.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for anyone who wants to start their own business,” said Laura Drosdowech, the Wolfson Campus Hospitality Institute manager. “The training they will receive with NANA and MDC’s School of Business is top quality training.”
Participants will also undergo work readiness training with NANA that is designed to teach them about professionalism and they will take industry-recognized exams through the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute.
Upon completion of the program, students will receive an MDC certificate of completion, industry-recognized hospitality certification and ServSafe manager certification.
Additionally, students will develop a business plan for their food truck and present it to a panel of industry experts. They will explain their cuisine, menu, marketing strategies, food truck designs and perform a culinary demonstration.
The panel will select three winners who will have the option to buy or lease a food truck. They will be provided inventory and licenses through NANA and Brightline will provide a parking space for their food truck at the MiamiCentral Station to help them build a solid customer base.
Applicants for the program must have some culinary or work experience, a letter outlining their food truck business plan and undergo an interview.
Priority consideration will be given to residents of Overtown. First priority is given to residents of the 33136 zip code. Second priority is given to residents who live in the following zip codes: 33127, 33142, 33147 and 33150.
“A lot of people are enjoying eating outdoors and with a food truck you have that ability, so the timing is perfect,” said Esther “Shelly” Fano, who serves as the chairperson of the Miami Culinary Institute, Hospitality Management Program and executive director of MDC’s Hospitality Institute.
To apply for the program, go to the Overtown Business Resource Center, 1490 N.W. 3rd Ave., Unit 106 in Miami. Registration closes at 4 p.m. on Sept. 1.
For more information, contact The Hospitality Institute at (305) 237-3267 or thehospitalityinstitute@mdc.edu or NANA at (786) 616-8997.
