SWANSEA, Ill. - Demetrius Gower once ran a catering business from his mother’s home. He now operates Big Meechie’s, an award-winning food truck.

“I can’t imagine doing anything else in the world,” he said.

Gower completed a food truck apprenticeship program, developed with support from retired Brigadier General John Michel, co-founder of the Soulcial Kitchen Campus.

“Food trucks fail at 80 percent in five years,” said Michel. “Let’s solve that problem. Being an ex-military general, I’m like, ‘We need a training program.’”

He credits partnerships with local, state and federal agencies for what he calls the only accredited, mobile, culinary apprenticeship program in the world.

An event at the Soulcial Kitchen Campus in Swansea on Monday celebrated the National Restaurant Association Edu

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