Students, educators and employers urge JBC to preserve ProStart hospitality grants and hospitality workforce supports

Educators, students and restaurant‑industry employers testified in favor of preserving the CDLE Hospitality Grant Program that supports ProStart career and technical education across Colorado high schools.

Christina Runyon (SEG 036) described ProStart's role in 85 high schools and access to ServSafe and industry credentials; student Carter Sassoni (SEG 037) and employer Dan Schafer (SEG 1256) described job pipelines and on‑the‑job readiness the program provides. Testimony noted linkages to MSU Denver for college credit and apprenticeships and argued that grant funding enables access for students who otherwise could not participate.

Witnesses asked the committee to consider the long‑term economic and workforce benefits of the program, and to prioritize targeted savings alternatives rather than eliminating the hospitality grant line.