New Markets Tax Credit Provides Financing to Support Culinary Arts Education in Flint, MI
Cinnaire recently joined Mott Community College Administrators, Congressman Dan Kildee, Celebrity Chef Carla Hall, community leaders and Mott students to celebrate the grand opening of the Mott Community College Culinary Arts Facility. Cinnaire, in partnership with Chase, provided a $9 million New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to support the state-of-the-art facility in downtown Flint.
“The New Markets Tax Credit looks to incentivize private investment to spur community revitalization and economic development in distressed communities,” said Peter Giles, Cinnaire Vice President, Business Development. “We are proud to join our partners from Mott Community College, the C.S Mott Foundation, Chase, and Uptown Reinvestment Corporation to create an economic impact in Flint while delivering culinary arts education opportunities.”
The new Culinary Arts Institute allows MCC to expand the Culinary Arts curriculum, expand the program’s student-operated restaurant service to include the baked goods café, and support community events in the downtown area. The larger facility will also enable MCC to increase the Culinary Arts program capacity to approximately 400 students, bringing new students to the area, and creating secondary economic impact.  Nationally, the restaurant industry is projected to grow by 1.7 million jobs by 2025.
Renovations to the Culinary Arts Institute created two culinary arts teaching kitchens, two bakery and pastry arts teaching kitchens, a meat fabrication teaching laboratory, a garde mangér classroom, a dining space connected to a baked goods café and a large, dividable meeting space to teach all aspects of the food service industry to MCC students.
The 36,000 square-foot former Woolworth Building was originally built at the turn of the 20th Century. While not located in a designated historic district, during renovation existing historic elements were preserved and new elements, such as signage and outdoor lighting, continue the historic theme.
The project is located in Flint’s Health and Wellness District, an area of Flint designated to focus on healthcare, positive eating habits and physical fitness. Mott CC has been at the forefront of promoting education and awareness based around healthy eating. The new facility will provide Mott CC with an expanded presence in downtown Flint, creating new opportunities to collaborate with Health and Wellness District partners such as the Flint Farmer’s Market, Michigan State University School of Public Health, and UM-Flint’s Health Science programs.
Photo Credit: Mott Community College
