CONTINUED > DuBose is also heavily involved in the community, speaking regularly about entrepreneurship at local high schools, hiring locally, and sourcing ingredients locally whenever possible. Starbucks also worked with Simms Building Group, a minority-owned general contracting and construction management firm in the St. Louis area, to build the site.
A Pathway to Jobs for Local Youth
The Ferguson store will work with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis to provide a unique in-store training program where young people in the community will have the opportunity to enroll in a multi-week retail and customer service skills training program. For this purpose, the Urban League was awarded a $ 50,000 grant to train the participants. The program meets a critical need for practical job training opportunities for young people, many of whom are eager to start their first job and work collectively to transform the legacy of the Ferguson community.“ We are grateful for this partnership with Starbucks which has also included an additional $ 25,000 donation to the Community Empowerment Center of Ferguson,” said McMillan.“ An in-store training opportunity with Starbucks will go a long way for a young person preparing for their first job. And that first job is going to set them up for success and help open up a world of opportunity. That’ s why we wanted to work with Starbucks and together find a way to use this new space to be so much more than a coffee shop, but a hub for the
kind of opportunities that might help a young person get their start.”
Community Support
“ I am grateful to Howard Schultz for believing and investing in our community. The impact of Starbucks’ commitment to Ferguson is enormous! It creates a ripple effect – jobs, revitalization, economic opportunities, and restores community pride. Starbucks is leading by example,” said The Honorable Hazel Erby, Saint Louis County Council, District 1.
“ As a council member for Ward One in Ferguson Missouri I am so excited and proud to welcome Starbucks to our community! The confidence and dedication this company has shown in our residents and town is very encouraging and inspiring. We look forward to a long and strong relationship between the city of Ferguson Missouri and the Starbucks Corporation,” said Ferguson City Councilmember Linda Lipka, Ward 1.