Karen Karp & Partners has been working with NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas, since 2013 to develop and implement a Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management (CAHM) program, funded by grants from the Walton Family Foundation totaling more than $8 million.

Among the services provided, KK&P looked at current and projected food and hospitality jobs in the region; food and hospitality trends in the region and nationally; interviewed local employers to understand skills required; developed curriculum outlines and syllabi for all new courses; designed culinary arts teaching kitchens; and helped recruit an executive director for the program.

With the program going live this school year, the project has garnered the attention of regional and statewide press outlets. Here are links to some stories about the KK&P-designed Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management program at NorthWest Arkansas Community College:

Brightwater Building (Northwest Arkansas Business Journal)

$15M in Walton Family Grants Fuel Culinary Expansion at Ark. College (Springfield Business Journal)

NWACC Culinary Program to Expand with New Focus (Walton Family Foundation)

A City Grows in Bentonville (Arkansas Life)

NWACC Moving Culinary School to Bentonville’s Former Tyson Factory (Arkansas Online)

NWACC’s Culinary Program to Expand (Arkansas Online)

Expansion Planned for NWACC Culinary Program (KNWA-TV)

Waltons Give $15 Million for NWACC Culinary Program Expansion (NWA Business Journal)

$15 Million Allows Huge Expansion of College Culinary Arts Program (Northwest Arkansas Council)

NWACC Culinary Program Poised to Become a World Class Culinary School (NWA Eats)

Former Tyson Poultry Plant to House Culinary School (Meat + Poultry)