The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation is the only organization in Florida that offers the ProStart program, the Lodging Management Program and the Skills, Tasks and Results Training program.

These programs were developed to increase the quality and employability of today's high school graduates by providing them with training related to important job skills as well as opportunities for careers and higher education.

Students are introduced to careers in foodservice and lodging and are taught basic skills needed for success in these industries.  This is accomplished through dynamic and comprehensive curriculums coupled with on-the-job training.

FRLA Announces Green Initiative Partnership with Clean Fuel

Cooking Oil Collection Incentive to Benefit Environment & Educational Foundation

The Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA) today announced a strategic partnership with Clean Fuel’s GreaseTec division, benefiting FRLA’s Educational Foundation and Florida’s environment.  The Orlando-based cooking oil collection company will offer monetary incentives to FRLA members to collect grease from local restaurants, with a portion of the proceeds allocated toward FRLA’s Educational Foundation. 

Clean Fuel will then take the cooking oil and convert it into biodiesel at its facilities, which in turn may be used in a number of vehicles, including school bus fleets.  FRLA is in current negotiations with Florida education leaders to use the recycled commodity at a discounted rate.

“Clean Fuel's GreaseTec division is privileged and honored to be part of such a winning combination with the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF) and potentially, our public school system,” said Lee Maher, owner of Clean Fuel.  “Not only is our state getting necessary funding for students, but we are also forging ahead with green efforts by producing a fuel product that is 88% carbon free.   It's the right product at the right time to benefit the planet, our children and our children's children.   Our entire team is very excited and we look forward to this winning relationship.”

Florida restaurateurs stepping up to the plate for Florida’s environment and the education of future hospitality leaders include Amigo's Tex-Mex Restaurants; Beef O' Brady's; Bella's Italian Café; Brian's Bar-B-Q; E-Brands Restaurants; Kobe Japanese Steakhouse; Luigino's At Heathrow; Orlando's Caribe Royale Resort Suites; Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center; Outback Steakhouse; Square One Burger; Texas Cattle Company; and TradeWinds Island Resorts.

“Wow! Imagine a program that recycles used cooking oil and then donates funds back to the very industry that mentors the next generation of workforce employees through their high school curriculums, ProStart and the Lodging Management Program – Brilliant!,” said Nick Vojnovic, President and CEO of Beef O’Brady’s Family Sports Pub and former FRLA chair.

“Kobe Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar is proud to be a part of this initiative,” said its President and CEO Chau Nguyen.  “Any opportunity to give back to the FRLA Educational Foundation is great, but this is also a very ‘green’ program, which benefits all Florida residents and can eventually reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Here’s how it works.  Participating restaurants and foodservice operators working with Clean Fuel will continue to be compensated (at a rate consistent with their use, up to $ .30 per gallon) for their used cooking oil, and the FRLAEF will be given 15 cents per gallon by Clean Fuel/GreaseTec.  This contribution may be tax deductible by the foodservice operator as an additional benefit. 

This initiative is designed to meet the permanent funding needs of the FRLAEF while creating a sustainable fuel resource with an environmentally friendly approach.  Early estimates of this new partnership show a potential of five million gallons of collected cooking oil being secured, which could yield up to $750,000 contributed directly to the Foundation in the first year of operation.  Further, participating organizations with fleet management fuel needs can also purchase their diesel from Clean Fuel at a discount to be determined by volume consumption. 

“In tough economic times, foodservice operators are always looking for ways to improve the bottom line,” said Carol Dover, President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.  “This initiative not only accomplishes that objective, but also benefits the hospitality industry’s future leaders and Florida’s environment.  It’s a win-win-win situation.”

For additional information about the program and how local foodservice operators may participate, please contact Drew McLeod, Vice President of the FRLA Educational Foundation at 850-224-2250, x227 or at Drew@FRLA.org.