Bloom Bakery

hway out of poverty. That’s why we proudly use the slogan: “Creating jobs is our secret ingredient.”

Bloom Bakery is a business with a heart. We bake to provide jobs for low-income and disadvantaged adults in Greater Cleveland. We are a benefit corporation owned by Towards Employment, a non-profit organization founded in 1976 that has helped more than 122,000 people prepare for jobs, get jobs, keep jobs, and move up the career ladder. Job placements increased from 245 in 2009 to 465 in 2014, and 290 of those placed had a criminal background. In 2014, TE provided 1,234 supportive services to help people overcome employment barriers like transportation, childcare, and access to tools and uniforms. Towards Employment opened 1,027 legal cases—clearing criminal warrants, resolving child support cases, preventing evictions and foreclosures, and resolving credit issues. Thanks to TE’s support, 128 people were able to advance on the job with average wage increases of over $2/hour.

11 years ago, Towards Employment added programming specifically designed to give people with involvement in the criminal justice system a second chance through gainful employment. In Cuyahoga County, 6,000 people return from state prison each year. Bloom Bakery helps returning citizens find jobs by employing graduates from Towards Employment’s reentry job readiness training programs, allowing even more people to continue on the path to success. IN BAKING, bloom is the golden brown color of the crust of well-baked bread. It also represents the ultimate goal we have for our employees—to blossom and to thrive. Our employees’ training and experience will provide the “bloom” on their resume—a recognizable symbol that they have met the exacting standards of production and customer service that the baking industry requires. At Bloom Bakery, we are not only passionate about providing jobs to people who most need them, but we are also passionate bakers serving the highest quality in handcrafted breads, pastries, and café meals. Through Maurice Chaplais’s guidance, we harness the unique science of slow baking, including a 3-day yeast fermentation process that produces unparalleled flavor. Our breakfast and lunch offerings are made with primarily locally sourced ingredients. Once you taste our food, you will become a customer for life. Profits earned from Bloom Bakery give graduates the opportunity to earn a wage, learn a new skill, transition into a full-time career, and hand over their oven mitts to the next job readiness graduate from Towards Employment. Together, we bloom.