The Bay Area’s growing manufacturing sector is often portrayed as the region’s last best chance to bring back some of the well-paying, blue-collar jobs that have been disappearing for decades.
But entrepreneurs at the forefront of the so-called “modern maker” movement — nimble boutique companies crafting everything from robots and drones to custom eyeglasses and backpacks — say there is a problem with this vision: a lack of workers trained in the necessary skills.
Most Popular
Breed hugs San Francisco Port Commission President Kimberly Brandon following a press conference Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at City Hall in San Francisco, Calif. after fellow candidate Mark Leno called Breed to concede to her. London Breed wins SF mayor’s race as Mark Leno concedes
Henry Sintay was arrested on suspicion of robbery on Monday, June 11, 2018, after he was confronted for throwing away a homeless man’s possessions in Oakland. Charges filed against Oakland’s ‘Jogger Joe’ as case shows immense power of shared videos
London Breed speaks to supporters at her election party in San Francisco on June 5. It’s a really big deal that SF elected London Breed as mayor
LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 18: Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Kyler Murray (1) in the first quarter of a Big 12 game between the Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks on November 18, 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, KS. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) A’s to announce Kyler Murray signing Friday; he’ll skip senior year at Oklahoma
Jan Birnbaum. Famed San Francisco chef Jan Birnbaum dies
Venture capitalist Tim Draper during his earlier effort to split California into six states. His measure to divide California into three states has qualified for the November 2018 ballot. Measure to split California into three states qualifies for November ballot
FILE– According to a lawsuit filed in Alameda County Superior Court last November, Berkeley Bowl is being sued by the owners of a 70-year-old, family-owned metal anodizing business in Emeryville called Metalco for breach of contract, misrepresentation and violating California business practices, among other actions. Berkeley Bowl seeks to expand, evict 70-year-old neighbor business. Lawsuit ensues.
While nonprofits train low-income Bay Area residents for jobs in fields like health care, construction and tech support, these leaders say, there’s no similar forum to become proficient with the tools of today’s makers: computer-controlled lathes and mills, laser cutters, injection molding machines, 3-D printers.
Seeking to fill this need, Ryan Spurlock started the San Francisco nonprofit Humanmade, part of a planned project at 1 De Haro, a 130,000-square-foot development at a former gravel operation on the edge of Showplace Square.
View Article