NEWS/PR: Gervais CTE Culinary Program Takes Learning on the Road with Innovative Food Truck, Funded by ODE Grant
Gervais, OR – Gervais School District is taking career and technical education (CTE) to the next level with the launch of a fully licensed commercial food truck, a groundbreaking addition to its culinary program, and funded through a CTE Revitalization Grant from the Oregon Department of Education (ODE). This innovative initiative provides students with hands-on experience in culinary arts, entrepreneurship, and business management while serving the greater Gervais community in creative and impactful ways.
The CTE Revitalization Grant from ODE is a competitive program designed to enhance and expand CTE opportunities across Oregon, equipping students with real-world skills and industry-aligned training. This funding supports programs that foster stronger connections between education and local industries. Through this grant, Gervais School District is investing in its students' futures by offering them practical experience in food service, business management, and customer engagement - key skills for success in Oregon’s thriving culinary and hospitality sectors.
The new truck arrived at the PDX Cart Builders shop in January 2025 as a blank slate, this is the before!
With the support of PDX Cart Builders, the district’s new food truck is being custom-built on a brand-new 2022 Ford F59 18' Step Van, designed to be a versatile platform capable of meeting the unique educational needs of Gervais CTE Culinary students.
"Expanding a culinary program to include a food truck component to connect with the local community – some of whom operate their own food trucks – is a winning approach to another aspect of CTE," said Scott Rose, Sr. Project Manager of R&C Management Group, serving Gervais School District.
The food truck will allow students to gain practical skills in event planning, menu strategies, food preparation, customer service, inventory management, and small business operations, setting them up for success in Oregon’s vibrant food industry. By integrating the entrepreneurial aspects of food service, the program equips students with the tools and experience to run their own businesses in the future.
The Gervais School District’s food truck is more than just a mobile kitchen—it’s an innovative classroom on wheels that blends technical training with real-world business experience. This is a unique opportunity for students to learn, create, and connect with the broader community.
As part of its mission to prepare students for high-demand careers, Gervais School District continues to lead the way in reimagining CTE programs in Oregon and beyond. The food truck will not only serve as an educational platform but also as a resource for community events, local partnerships, and fundraising efforts, making a lasting impact on students and the local economy.
PDX Cart Builders is finishing up customizing the interior, installing additional equipment, and then the exterior of the truck will be wrapped with custom graphics unique to Gervais School District and their CTE Culinary Program. The wrap will be a collaboration drawing from Gervais student’s artistic ideas for a final design to be completed in the coming weeks.
R&C Management is proud to help bring this special project to life, and we’re all excited to see Gervais School District’s new food truck on the road and taste the hard work of the Culinary Program’s students!
This project is on time for completion and utilization in the very near future, more great news to come!
Learn more about Gervais School District here: Gervais School – Gervais Oregon School District
Learn more about the (ODE) CTE Revitalization Grant here: Oregon Department of Education : CTE Revitalization Grant : CTE Funding : State of Oregon
Learn More about R&C Management Group’s history of serving Gervais School District here: Gervais School District — R&C Management Group, LLC
