Rochester Educational Opportunity Center Creates Free Hospitality Hub Training Program

PROGRAM SUPPORTS DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER REVITALIZATION THROUGH CONNECTION TO AREA AMENITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

ROCHESTER, NY — The Rochester Educational Opportunity Center (REOC) is proud to launch a Hospitality Hub program to train local individuals and prepare them for success in hospitality careers throughout our region. Based on other New York State EOC hospitality programs, this initiative covers a wide-range of hospitality skill building and job-readiness training for an industry that employs more than 18,000 workers in the Finger Lakes Region alone.

The FREE, 10-week program will prepare students with information, skills, and insight into the area’s many attractions. After several weeks of in-class learning, the training will culminate in an internship, where participants will engage in a paid learning experience throughout Downtown Rochester during events, festivals and throughout the warm weather season. The “ROC Stars” will be available four days a week during the day, offering information and assistance to local residents, workers, and visitors during events, festivals, and at other peak times.

The certification and practical hand-on experience provided through the Hospitality Hub program will make students more marketable as they enter a career path in the hospitality industry.

Program highlights:

• Comprehensive Curriculum: Students will gain fundamental hospitality and customer service skills with enhanced training including mental health first aid, crisis intervention, and security guard introductory 8-hour pre assignment training.

• Hands-On Training: The program emphasizes practical training and culminates with a paid internship for work completed during their internship hours. The internship allows students the hands-on practical application of the skills learned throughout the program.

• Career-Focused Skills: Students develop critical skills in problem-solving and safety protocols.

• Placement Assistance: Graduates receive access to job placement support, and higher education opportunities.

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“This program represents an investment in both the people in our community and downtown Rochester. By training and empowering “Downtown ROC Stars”, we’re not only creating meaningful career and continuing education pathways, but also enhancing the experiences of people in downtown Rochester. It’s a win for our workforce and a win for our community. This dynamic new program responds to a clear need in the job market that REOC is eager to help fill. We are thrilled to share this announcement and would like to thank our program supporters the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation, and Visit Rochester.”

Tim Shafer, Academic Affairs Director, REOC

“The Rochester Educational Opportunity Center is a leader in community-centered job readiness programming. Their new Hospitality Hub program is designed to address a clear need in the regional job market, while providing varied and impactful hands-on learning opportunities. We are proud to partner to support them in their mission to "deliver comprehensive, community-based academic and workforce development programs..." We applaud the students who have chosen this promising new program and look forward to seeing them out and about in the heart of downtown."

Galin Brooks, President & CEO, Rochester Downtown Development Corporation

Greater Rochester Chamber President & CEO Bob Duffy said, "Congratulations to the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center on the launch of their Hospitality Hub! This innovative new program will help connect hard-working individuals to meaningful careers—something Greater Rochester Chamber is a passionate supporter of. By investing in future hospitality leaders, this Hub will help position our region as an attractive place to live, work, and play for residents and visitors alike and foster a dynamic and inviting culture. We are proud to partner with Rochester Downtown Development Corporation and Visit Rochester to support this program and are eager to welcome the first cohort of students."

“Visit Rochester is proud to partner with the Rochester Educational Opportunity Center on the launch of the Hospitality Hub program. As the official tourism promotion agency for Monroe County, we know firsthand the importance of developing the workforce to further grow and support our region’s hospitality industry. The students enrolled in this program will play an important role in welcoming all visitors to downtown Rochester, including local residents, workers, tourists, convention attendees, students and more. We are pleased to provide training tools and information to the students in this program to enhance their knowledge of our community and hospitality skill building.”

Don Jeffries, President & CEO, Visit Rochester

To learn more about the new program’s admission requirements and to apply today, visit reoc.brockport.edu. For details about how your business can benefit from this program and its graduates, contact: Dr. Tim Shafer at trshafer@brockport.edu.

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About Rochester Educational Opportunity Center

Rochester EOC has been a leader in quality, tuition-free, short-term College Preparation, Career and Technical training for adults in Rochester and surrounding areas for over 55 years. REOC is sponsored, in part, by SUNY Brockport, and offers innovative quality programs to a diverse adult population. The goal of the REOC is for its graduates to obtain placement in higher education or employment. Conveniently located at 161 Chestnut Street, the REOC offers day, evening, and online training programs. For more information, visit www.reoc.brockport.edu or find it on facebook.com/RochesterEOC, and on Instagram and TikTok @rochestereoc.

About Rochester Downtown Development Corporation

RDDC, established in 1977, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to driving economic vitality in downtown Rochester. RDDC achieves this by promoting downtown's assets to attract businesses and investments while fostering innovative ideas to create a more vibrant and inclusive community. In 2020, RDDC founded The Commissary, the region's first food business incubator and shared kitchen.

About Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Whether you're leading a team, launching an idea, or growing your skills, Greater Rochester Chamber is here to back your next move. They fuel progress through resources, connections, and opportunities that open real doors—and clear real paths forward. Greater Rochester Chamber has evolved with the times, but their focus has remained the same, tied directly to the mission of those who founded this organization – to be a voice for businesses in this region and help them to thrive.

About Visit Rochester

Visit Rochester is the official tourism promotion agency for Monroe County. It builds and maintains relationships with hundreds of organizations and businesses in the community that work to attract visitors to Monroe County, in turn growing the overall economic impact of the tourism and hospitality industry in the county and the Finger Lakes region as a whole. They are a membership-based organization with more than 400 members that represent local lodging, retail, restaurants, services, and community organizations that all strive to provide the best visitor experience.

Visit Rochester is DMAP Accredited with Destinations International and a partner of I Love NY.

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