Manchester, NH (March 5, 2026) – ApprenticeshipNH, a workforce training program of the Community College System of New Hampshire (CCSNH), and Manchester Community College (MCC) have joined forces with the New Hampshire Food Bank (Food Bank) to create a one-year Preparation Cook Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP). The program combines paid, on-the-job training and 144 hours of related instruction, all offered at the Food Bank’s fully equipped production kitchen located on East Industrial Park Drive in Manchester.
“We often work with employers to develop their own workforce through apprenticeships. Our collaboration with the New Hampshire Food Bank is an exciting opportunity to address workforce needs across New Hampshire’s entire hospitality sector,” said Tracey Jackson, Hub Coordinator for ApprenticeshipNH.
Stacie Merrifield, director of the Food Bank’s culinary and nutrition programs, said that the RAP is just one way the New Hampshire Food Bank supports a statewide network of partners to alleviate food insecurity and nourish and strengthen communities.
“Part of the New Hampshire Food Bank’s mission is to fight the root causes of hunger by empowering people to learn new skills. This apprenticeship is an innovative way to fulfill our mission, while also supporting our restaurant partners and the community by helping train a workforce dedicated to feeding New Hampshire,” Merrifield said.
The new RAP will begin in April. On-the-job training will provide hands-on experience in professional kitchen operations, food preparation and culinary skills, food safety, inventory management and a wide range of other capabilities.
The Food Bank collaborated with MCC to develop a seven-week curriculum teaching food preparation, nutrition and business basics. Students will venture outside of the kitchen to visit local farms and fisheries to learn about the complex ecosystem of food distribution and the importance of sustainable agriculture. The course will be taught by the Food Bank’s Chef Instructor and is open to both RAP participants and MCC students.
Chuck Neild, MCC’s workforce development program manager, worked closely with the Food Bank to develop the curriculum. “This is a short-term workforce program where graduates will have a certificate of completion that opens doors to employment or creates a pathway to continue their educational journey in hospitality or culinary arts,” he explained.
“MCC has a long-standing relationship with the New Hampshire Food Bank, and we are excited to collaborate on this program, which will expand outreach in a new area of workforce development for the college and the local community,” said MCC President Paul Beaudin.
The New Hampshire Food Bank applied for and received grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor through ApprenticeshipNH to offset the costs of starting the RAP.
For more information, please visit https://nhfoodbank.org/what-we-do/culinary-job-training/.
