Hello CATT Members –

I am proud to serve as your 2019 President and look forward to building on the great accomplishments of 2018, which include surpassing 400 members for the first time, moving to a new and larger CATT office, starting planning for the new downtown community park, the largest CATT Community Project in our history -  among other important efforts by CATT staff and member volunteers.  Kudos to Executive Director Kellie Cutler for successfully securing a $10,000 grant from the Queen of Hearts Women's Fund, powered by the Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation for the community park project,  led by long time CATT member Mark Tanner.  I would ask all CATT members to consider giving Mark your support and/or contributing to Community Project to ensure that this effort is a successful one.  CATT’s role as a strong and effective representative of the construction industry and member businesses is, in no small part, defined by what we do for the community in which we live and work.  Let’s rally around the effort to get this done!

2019 looks to be another strong year for the local economy, although many of us are expecting gradual slowing of the growth that we have seen in recent years.  Keynote speaker at the annual Reno regional Forecast meeting, and former National Association of Home Builders economist Dr. Elliot Eisenberg told the audience that he expects the national economy to slow to 2.2% GDP growth in 2019 and 2.0% in 2020.  One of a number of important contributing factors cited for the slowing of growth by Eisenberg is the escalating cost of housing and the growing gap between median income and median home price, which makes home ownership less attainable and the cost of all housing (owned and rented) higher for all people.  He noted a disproportionately high cost of building materials, rising cost of labor and insurance, increasingly restrictive building codes and increasing difficultly of entitlement/permit processes as primary causes of the disproportionate increases in the cost of housing - in an otherwise low inflation economy. 

In our small community, we often believe that macro-economic forces that affect the entire country can not be impacted by our efforts.  However, CATT is currently engaged in a collaborative effort with the Placer County Building Dept to solve ongoing problems with permit delays, LGAC and CATT representatives on the Building Working Group continue to work with Truckee Building Dept and other local agencies to help improve clarity, predictability and the time required to permit and build here.   Code application and specific rules are also examined for ways to streamline the buiiding process.  CATTPAC representatives recently discussed the importance of vocational/technical programs at Truckee High School in a meeting at the CATT offices with Superintendant of Schools,  Dr. Rob Leri and TTUSD Board President, Kim Szczurek.   The effort to develop a larger pool of trained workers for the local construction industry is a win-win for CATT member businesses and THS graduates who earn way above average wages with better trade skills.  Macro problems can be addressed on the local level and CATT is getting it done!

CATT absolutely does make a difference.  The efforts of talented staff and member volunteer teams are solving problems, lifting member businesses, and giving back to the community every month.  I urge all CATT members to be a part of it and take a little time out of your busy lives to join a committee or attend a public meeting.  Community Project, LGAC, CATTPAC and many other CATT committees could use your help.  Please contact the CATT office to learn more about how you can contribute your time and expertise.

Thank you – Regards to all -

Peter