Here’s the latest business news from around Northern Nevada, with Business Beat from the Northern Nevada Business Weekly.
Reno-Based Company Protecting Homes From Next Wildfire
Wildfires have burned hundreds of thousands of acres already this year, but one Reno-based company is looking to help protect homes from the next blaze — and business is booming.
Wilderness Forestry, Inc. specializes in clearing brush and vegetation to create defensible space around homes and buildings. The company started three years ago with a few small mulching jobs and now has 12 employees and six machines.
Owner Wes Hansen said the company tripled its revenue and number of clients every year.
Read more about this defensible space company at nnbw.com.
Construction Industry Facing Major Materials Shortage
As the economy in Northern Nevada continues to rebound from the pandemic, construction companies are dealing with a major shortage in building materials.
This is leading to rising and variable costs for everything from PVC pipe to lumber, and that’s making it harder for builders in Northern Nevada to accurately predict costs into their bids, exposing them to potential losses.
This also means it’s taking longer for projects to get started, which can have a major impact in Northern Nevada, where a lack of housing is leading to high costs.
Read more about the construction materials shortage at nnbw.com.
Staffing Shortages Impacting Nevada’s Tech, Mining Sectors
Staffing is also an issue for Northern Nevada companies. Reno-based Synap has seen its business grow tenfold over the past five years, but it’s struggling to find skilled developers. In fact, there were 1.4 million unfilled software developer jobs nationwide by the end of last year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Nevada’s mining industry also needs workers. According to Nevada Mining Association President Tyre Gray, the state has about 500 fewer employees than it needs in the industry.
Read more about shortages in technology staff and mining workers at nnbw.com.
Kaleb Roedel is a KUNR contributor and reporter with the Northern Nevada Business Weekly. For more business news, check out the Northern Nevada Business Weekly at nnbw.com or in print on Wednesdays.
