For many people, a steady job can seem like a far-fetched dream. Chronic barriers to employment—such as criminal history, drug addiction, or inadequate education—can prevent people from developing skills that will provide a career and a livelihood, and they leave a significant group of potentially valuable workers unavailable to companies.

That's why some organizations, such as Venice on Vine, a restaurant and catering company in Cincinnati, Ohio, have built businesses around developing the talents of individuals who might otherwise have difficulty finding a job.

Under the umbrella of the nonprofit Power Inspires Progress, Venice on Vine recruits employees who might struggle to work elsewhere and provides them paid training in a supportive work environment. Held to high standards in a working kitchen, they learn the skills needed to find a steady job in the restaurant industry while developing other basic life skills.

This approach has yielded great results, not just for the workers Venice on Vine trains, but also for the customers it serves. As of January 1, the restaurant has earned four points (out of a possible five) for its rating on TripAdvisor.com.