Mayor Dan Gelber requested at the February 9, 2022 Commission meeting to place an item for discussion on the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee agenda to discuss providing a one-time contribution of $100,000 in matching funds towards the cost of implementing a ProStart Hospitality Training Program and kitchen at Miami Beach Senior High.  At the April 29, 2022 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee meeting, members unanimously approved a partnership with the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce and Miami-Dade County Public Schools to provide a one-time matching fund contribution of $100,000 to support the purchase, installation, and maintenance of needed equipment for the kitchen.

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year high school culinary arts and restaurants management program that reaches approximately 130,000 students in more than 1,700 high schools across 50 states, Guam and the District of Columbia.  From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-life experience opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime. Students who have completed the requirements of the ProStart program are awarded an industry-recognized certificate, the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement. Students who receive the certificate are eligible for NRAEF scholarship opportunities and course credits at some of the country's leading hospitality and culinary arts colleges and universities. According to Chef Guy Fieri, this program helps students learn about food which can benefit them in both their career and their life as a consumer.

According to Jerry Libbin, President and CEO of the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, Miami-Dade County Public School Administration has committed to fund all infrastructure improvements in the selected classroom if the Miami Beach Chamber Education Foundation and partners will fund the class equipment. The Miami Beach Chamber’s Education Foundation has indicated its commitment to raising the necessary funds to purchase first class equipment and all new supplies for the program. Jerry Libbin indicated in a letter to Mayor Gelber that estimates a total of $500,000 needed for class equipment of which the Miami Beach Chamber has verbal commitments for $335,000.

Per the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce, at least $250,000 will be raised to support this partnership.    Miami-Dade County Public Schools has indicated an in-kind contribution of at least $750,000 to retrofit the existing student kitchen at Miami Beach Senior High School to accommodate the new equipment.   

As part of the City's contribution, Miami-Dade County Public Schools will ensure there are at least six (6) culinary classes available each year following completion of the retrofit and new equipment installation for no less than five (5) years including inclusion of the classes as elective offerings in the Miami Beach Senior High School master schedule and marketing of the program annually to students during student subject selection.