Inspire Café & Coffee: More Than Meals at CMD Headquarters
- Zach York
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
When the California Military Department (CMD) opened its new headquarters in Rancho Cordova, one important question lingered: how could they provide troops and employees with fresh, dependable food right on site?
The answer came through partnership and people. CMD teamed up with Lincoln Training Center’s Community-Based Rehabilitation Program (CRP) to launch Inspire Café & Coffee, now the headquarters’ bustling cafeteria. At the heart of it all is Chef Dana, whose leadership is shaping not just menus, but lives.
Dana’s vision goes beyond serving high-quality meals. He’s passionate about training and empowering his crew—including Mike, a kitchen steward and one of the café’s newest full-time employees. Mike started his journey through Lincoln Training Center, eager to learn his way around a professional kitchen. With Dana’s guidance, he quickly mastered new skills, built confidence, and proved himself indispensable. Today, he’s a key part of the team, from helping behind the scenes to greeting customers with a smile. Mike is bringing real joy to his work!
This kind of impact is made possible through California’s State Use contracting program, which enables state agencies to contract directly with certified CRPs. For CMD, that means meeting daily operational needs while also investing in meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The Impact
For CMD Headquarters:
A dependable food service right at the heart of the new facility.
Fresh, quality meals for troops and staff every day.
A simple contracting process that avoids red tape.
For the Lincoln Training Center team:
Hands-on training in culinary and customer service.
A sense of pride in serving those who serve our state.
Long-term jobs, like Mike’s, that build both skills and futures.
Why It Matters
Through the State Use Program, agencies can get reliable, timely services while also creating lasting community impact. Because State Use allows agencies to communicate directly with a CRP, there’s a level of flexibility and confidence that traditional procurement often can’t provide.
Instead of working on a rigid schedule with plenty of unknowns—the last thing you want when signing a contract—you gain the assurance that services will be delivered to your standards, on your timeline.
It’s not just about checking a box—it’s about transforming lives, one opportunity at a time.
A Next Step Worth Taking
CMD’s success with Inspire Café & Coffee shows what’s possible when mission readiness and social responsibility go hand-in-hand. If your agency is navigating challenges in food service, custodial work, landscaping, or beyond, the State Use Program may be the solution you’ve been looking for.
We’d love to share how it works and explore whether it could be the right fit for your needs.
Let’s start the conversation.
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