Cafe Overlook

2023 NACo Achievement Award Winner

Franklin County, Ohio, OH

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About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

Café Overlook is a full-service restaurant that is a unique and innovative workforce development program in Franklin County, Ohio, providing great food at subsidized prices for County employees and residents visiting the government complex. As the country began emerging from the pandemic, we challenged ourselves on rethinking what we had done in the past, while assisting those who were hit hardest. The food service industry, which disproportionally employs women and people of color, was devastated. The County partnered with “Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers,” a non-profit started by three talented local restauranteurs to create a brand new concept: A workforce program for the hospitality industry, with a pipeline of individuals that County agencies and our partners, including individuals involved with the criminal justice program; those unemployed, underemployed and/or unhoused; as well as residents receiving public assistance benefits from county health and human services agencies. The program provides wrap-around services to assist with accessing childcare, transportation, mental health and wellness services, while also educating the public about the true costs of providing fresh food and offering liveable wages. It’s a wholistic approach that provides participants with both the skills they need to be successful in the future, and the support they need to successfully complete the program.

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