Construction Trade School (with housing end game) Public Comment from Craig YatesDear City Council,
My name is Craig Yates. I am in the process of working out the specifics to erect a 10,000 steel building to house a construction trade school, primarily for Gen Z and Millennials, but
not limited to, to learn any number of 54 different craft trades offered through NCCER. NCCER is a national accreditation non-profit that writes the curriculum for the trades, as well
as publishes the textbooks and testing formats used in the classroom.
Having sold a construction company in 2018 we wanted to give back some of what we were blessed with over the years. We enrolled in a ministry program that included about three thousand
twenty to thirty year olds. We were and still are in our fifties. As a contractor for years, I immediately noticed that the skill sets of a lot of these ministry students had very little
knowledge in construction and the trades. A vision was formed from there to start this school. Currently it is registered in Montana as a 501c3.
For three years I wrestled over a product that could fast-track student education for substantially less time and money than a four-year university. I also noticed these younger generations
weren't interested in being tied down to a 'forever' home or a large mortgage that drastically limited their freedom. I picked tiny homes as a product, simply because they were less
expensive, could be built quicker, and included all the disciplines in home building. I designed a steel production building that would accommodate three tiny home builds at any given
time to house the school. These homes will be staggered in production to finish one a month to start.
I also experienced many contractors needing to find semi-skilled and skilled labor in the Flathead Valley. Many even showed an interest in being instructors for the student body in teaching
these trades. The accreditations/diplomas offered through NCCER start at apprenticeship level and go up to journeyman level skill sets.
We will also require at the beginning of the school year a complete OSHA-10 certification course to be completed with OSHA 10 certification before students will be able to pick up any
tools needed for production.
These homes will not be trailers on wheels; they will be built on I-beam skids and craned onto to lowboy trucks ready for delivery wherever needed. They will all be designed uniquely
with shed or barn roofs, wide open floor plans, one and two bedrooms, full kitchens, full baths plus laundry. They will be closed cell foam insulated units with 2" x 10" floor joists
, 2" x 6" walls, and 2" x 8" roofs. They will range in size from 14' x 32' (448 sq. ft.) as the smallest up to 16' x 45' (720 sq. ft.) as the largest (to date). They will have corrugated
steel roofs from local suppliers, mini split heat/air units, and multiple different siding combinations and colors. Many local material suppliers have also shown great interest in this
effort.
The plan is to have the buyers take care of foundations; on big foot systems using sonic tubes or, if preferred, they can build a complete foundation. The advantage of these homes built
on I-Beam rails is the simplicity of unbolting them, craning them off their foundations and moving them later, if need be. Students or their family would have first right of refusal
on 'their' builds as well as have some input into construction, design, color scheme, etc..
I bring this before the council, not knowing if any of this fits into Bill 382 purposes. I see a need to train up generations in skill sets that really are the backbone of the US. I
also see a move of these younger generations to keep their debt lower and allow them to be more flexible in their lifestyles. Any further documentation on this project is readily available
to any and all interested parties.
SIncerely,
Craig Yates
Ceiling 2 Floor Trade School (501c3)
Box 850
Somers, MT 59932
406-607-3030
earthstonesgranite@gmail.com <mailto:earthstonesgranite@gmail.com>