Baker College of Muskegon Purchases Downtown Land
for Culinary Arts Program Expansion

MUSKEGON, Mich. – Baker College of Muskegon today announced their intent to purchase land in downtown Muskegon for the expansion of its highly acclaimed culinary arts program. The half-acre parcel, located at the south corner of Third Street and Clay Avenue, will be the site for a new, two-story, 15,000 square foot building for the Baker College of Muskegon Center for Culinary Arts due to open in 2008.

This development by the College requires a significant investment and will become part of Muskegon Downtown’s renaissance. "Building this facility is the first step in the goal of Baker College of Muskegon Culinary Arts to offer a world-class culinary arts program,” said Chef Robb White, C.E.C., Baker College of Muskegon Culinary Arts department chair. “With the recent growth of our program and this move downtown, we will be able to offer our students an outstanding education in culinary fundamentals, as well as the real life experience that will strengthen their knowledge and professionalism."

"A climate-controlled kitchen laboratory to teach tempered chocolate, a sugar-only room to teach techniques ranging from sugar roses to wedding cakes, and a fully equipped pastry kitchen—it can’t get better than that!" said Chef Luis Amado, C.E.P.C., Lead Pastry Instructor.

Clifford Buck Construction Company is the general contractor for the project. Planning and design, along with preliminary site work will begin in January, with groundbreaking planned for September 2007. The Baker College of Muskegon Center for Culinary Arts is planned to open fall 2008.

The largest private college in Michigan, Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. It is a non-profit higher education institution, serving more than 35,000 students on 12 campuses and in five satellite locations. Baker grants certificates, associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in business, health sciences, education and human service, and various technical fields. As a career college, the Baker College system is proud to have achieved a graduate employment rate of 98 percent.