Group cooks up culinary plan for old prison28 th District leaders seek funding to offer service skills training.

Byline: Yolanda Putman

Dec. 10--The 28th Legislative District Community Development Corp. hopes to raise $2 million by the end of 2007 to transform an old prison site into a complex that would include a culinary arts school. "Our city is becoming service-oriented. Hotels and restaurants are in need of qualified cooks," said Joelander Wheeler, program director. "We're going to provide skilled journeyman cooks and equip them with other marketable skills the students can carry with them into any industry in the city." The school is expected to accept 96 students a year. Targeted students are low-income residents with a GED or high school diploma who live in the 28th …