Close to 15,000 homes were damaged or destroyed in the fires that ravaged the North Bay in October. As residents decide whether or not to rebuild, many are facing a daunting crisis: a shortage of contractors and construction workers, who were stretched thin even before the fires. Forum talks about the Bay Area’s overburdened construction industry and what it means for the speed and cost of new construction in the fire zones, and throughout the area.
Guests:
Robert Eyler, professor of economics; dean, School of Extended and International Education, Sonoma State University
Keith Woods, CEO, North Coast Builders Exchange
Tim Leach, chair, Build and Rebuild Initiative, Habitat for Humanity Sonoma County
Kathy Goodacre, executive director, CTE Foundation
Related:
CTE Foundation: Construction Corps Training Program
KQED’s wildfire coverage
North Coast Builders Exchange: What You Need to Know Before Hiring a Contractor