North Bay Construction Corps
A partnership with North Coast Builders Exchange and Sonoma County Office of Education
Even before the devastating fires in 2017 that changed Sonoma County forever, our regional construction industry had identified an overwhelming need for a skilled and motivated workforce; for every five construction professionals retiring from the industry, just one new worker was entering the workforce to replace them.
In response to this crisis, CTE Foundation alongside partners North Coast Builders Exchange, the Santa Rosa Junior College and Sonoma County Office of Education, designed the North Bay Construction Corps to address the growing need for new construction workers in the region.
A five-month career exploration and training program, the North Bay Construction Corps (NBCC) introduces high school seniors to careers in construction and the trades and an opportunity to earn college credit. The program culminates in an intensive two-week boot camp that allows participants to practice their skills and experience first-hand day-to-day work life in the industry while earning a trade scholarship.
The NBCC is now led by the North Coast Builders Exchange and you can learn more about the program application cycle and program impact here.
Investment Model
The success of the NBCC illustrates CTE Foundation’s approach and philosophy of making smart and innovative investments rooted in economic and educational data to quickly address community needs.
CTE Foundation’s investment model follows a cycle: test (pilot), evaluate, improve and scale. The 2017 pilot of NBCC was deemed highly successful by both industry partners and students, with every boot camp graduate receiving multiple offers from local employers. This success, combined with the tragic firestorm in 2017 which resulted in the loss of thousands of homes, led to us securing a $1,000,000 grant from Tipping Point Community Investment Fund. This grant along with donations from individuals and businesses supported our efforts to scale the program within Sonoma County and beyond into Marin, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties.
We continue strengthening this investment model through programs such as the Girls Tinker Academy and Sonoma Corps. Remaining nimble and responsive to emerging needs is a strategic priority, as is leveraging our strong partnerships with both local employers and educational institutions to maximize the impact of our investments.
Produced in Partnership
