[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]FLINT, Michigan — Enrollment in Mott Community College’s culinary arts program will be able to double — perhaps even triple — to as many as 600 students with the opening of its new home in downtown Flint.

Moving into the old Woolworth’s building on Second and Saginaw streets, the three-story building is nearly 100 years old and offers more than 36,000-square-feet. That space will translate into the ability to enroll 500 to 600 students, said Dale Weighill, associate vice president for Institutional Advancement.

“The first thing is we are trying to create is a destination program that is sort of a beacon for people who are foodies, who want to get into the food industry, maybe become an entrepreneur or an executive chef, or a caterer, something along those lines,” Weighill said in an update during a Flint & Genesee Chamber luncheon. “We want a highly visible program, and we think moving it downtown to Second and Saginaw will do that and … bring in people near and far that didn’t know that Mott had a culinary school.”

The basement will house faculty offices, student lockers, a lounge, and dry and cold storage. On the main floor, a Coffee Beanery will open shop along with Applewood Cafe. There will also be a bar area for mixology classes, and multiple kitchens to teach every level of culinary classes. Upstairs there will be classroom space, conference area, demonstration kitchen as well as baking, pastry and confections labs.

The $13 million renovation project is slated for completion in April or May and one of several developments ongoing in downtown Flint. In the last week, signage went up for both The Eberson arcade bar and ELGA Credit Union, both also located on Second Street.

Jake Carah

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