NYC, Paris Baguette, American Chamber of Commerce in Korea Partner To Boost Workforce Opps, Access To Food - SBS

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2023

NEW YORK CITY, PARIS BAGUETTE AND THE AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN KOREA PARTNER TO BOOST WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS TO FOOD

Agreement will help New Yorkers gain business experience and expand access to food donations for those in need

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chairman & CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM) James Kim, Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim, NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs Commissioner Ed Mermelstein, and Global Business Unit President and Chief Strategy Officer of Paris Baguette, Jin Soo Hur announced Wednesday the signing of an agreement to stimulate economic growth through internships for New Yorkers and supports for minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs).

Central to the initiative is an immersive, six-week internship training program at Paris Baguette, where interns will receive hands-on training and classroom instruction on food production in either baking or cake decoration. The internship will conclude with consideration for job placement and opportunities for continued career development.

The partnership will also support the growth of firms from the City's diverse pool of M/WBEs by introducing them to AMCHAM and opportunities to do business with international firms.

Rounding out the partnership, Paris Baguette has committed to donating food to economically disadvantaged communities, which will be distributed across the five boroughs.

"New York is a big city of small businesses, and we want to make sure we are supporting everyone who wants to invest in our city, including our international companies," said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. "This agreement with Paris Baguette will help create jobs and opportunity throughout the five boroughs, support the creation of youth internships that will build career skills and job readiness, and develop a food donation program for New Yorkers in need across our city. You can feel New York City's recovery is a strong as a jolt of coffee, and today, we are going the extra mile to boost our comeback. Working together with our partners in the private sector, we can keep our recovery strong and create more opportunity for everyone."

"Partnership is an essential ingredient for economic growth, and this collaboration with Paris Baguette and AMCHAM demonstrates that new opportunities can rise from matching business talent with the city's greatest needs," said Kevin D. Kim, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. "We are thrilled that this partnership will provide work opportunities to New Yorkers and expand support for M/WBEs, and SBS is pleased to help bring workers and businesses together for this innovative model."

"Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Adams, our administration is creating an ecosystem for people and businesses to thrive across the five boroughs," said Edward Mermelstein, Commissioner, NYC Mayor's Office for International Affairs. "We are proud to continue attracting international investments and businesses to NYC. I applaud the commitments by Paris Baguette and AMCHAM Korea to support M/WBEs and New Yorkers. We call on other global businesses to also invest in New York City and create better opportunities for New Yorkers."

"At Paris Baguette, we're proud of our standing as a pillar of business and community in the neighborhoods we serve. Through this partnership with New York City and AMCHAM to support women and minorities, we're furthering our commitment to create opportunities that strengthen our economy and support future business leaders," said Global Business Unit President and Chief Strategy Officer of Paris Baguette, Jin Soo Hur.

"I strongly believe that this signing ceremony is a symbol of the incredible synergy between the U.S. and Korea, a true win-win-win partnership and picture-perfect scenario for championing numerous collaboration efforts among the three parties," said AMCHAM Chairman & CEO James Kim. "One of AMCHAM's top missions is to help more companies including SMEs from Korea and the U.S. do more business in our respective countries and today, we're one step closer to realizing this vision. We will continue to encourage Korean companies to invest in New York City."

About The American Chamber of Commerce in Korea (AMCHAM)
AMCHAM Korea was founded in 1953 with a broad mandate to encourage the development of investment and trade between the Republic of Korea and the United States. AMCHAM is the largest foreign chamber in Korea comprised of 800+ member companies and affiliates with diverse interests and substantial participation in the Korean economy. Relaunched in 2022, AMCHAM's American Business Center (ABC) is a market entry program that empowers U.S. SMEs to succeed in the Korean market created through an exclusive partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

About Paris Baguette
With a projected 1,000 bakery cafés in the United States by 2030, Paris Baguette is on a mission to reestablish the neighborhood bakery café as the heart of the community. Paris Baguette serves craveable baked and brewed treats and creates warm and welcoming experiences through a blend of gracious service, expert craftsmanship and community connections. From decisions made behind a desk to smiles offered behind a counter, the desire to spread joy and make the world a happier place drives everything we do.

Being a neighborhood bakery café means caring about those around us and finding ways to make a real impact. We do so through our "Love Baked In" programs that bring to life our commitment to serving local communities through various charitable programs and initiatives.

Paris Baguette is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences and a network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Paris Baguette location closest to you, please visit parisbaguette.com.

About the Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses, and building vibrant neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/sbs, call 311, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.