Facing a shrinking and aging workforce, the Home Builders and Remodelers Association of Maine (HBRAME) is tackling the problem head-on by giving high school students a chance to build real homes — and real careers — before they even graduate.

Partnering with the Sanford Regional Technical Center (SRTC), the HBA’s initiative helps students learn the skilled trades hands-on by constructing entire houses from the ground up.

“The average carpenter is in their 50s,” said Mark Patterson, the program’s founder and an HBRAME member. “We have to replace our workforce, and the best way is to expose kids to this and see what they want to do.”

Students in the SRTC Building Trades program spend mornings in traditional classes, then switch to job sites in the afternoon. Under the guidance of instructors and industry mentors, students tackle everything from framing and siding to interiors and finishes. Once complete, the homes are sold on the open market.

Now in its seventh year, the program has delivered five completed homes, with two more underway and an eighth’s foundation being laid. The next homes are slated for completion in winter 2025 and spring 2026.

“It’s about real experience,” Patterson explained. “You never know what sparks a kid’s interest, whether it’s laying the floor or painting. We bring people in to talk to the kids as much as possible.”

The program integrates SRTC’s Building Trades, Electrical, Plumbing and Horticulture courses, showing students how various trades come together to finish a house — and helping them find where they fit.

Demand for spots is so high there’s a waiting list. Sixteen students are accepted each year, with juniors usually tackling exterior work like framing, while seniors shift to interior details such as cabinetry.

Thanks to strong industry support, much of the program’s building material comes from donations by local and national suppliers invested in sustaining the trades. Home sales fund the next build, while also supporting scholarships and tools for graduates.

In its first year, the program awarded $10,000 in scholarships and tools. Last year, that figure grew to over $40,000, helping students pay for college or gear up with starter tools for the workforce.

“I truly believe this is the future of our workforce,” Patterson said.

Industry Impact

‍The HBRAME’s approach addresses a challenge the entire U.S. construction industry faces: a skilled labor shortage that could slow housing production and inflate costs for years to come if not addressed. By giving students direct exposure to construction trades, the program helps fill the pipeline early — while also showing young people that the trades can offer solid, well-paying careers without massive student debt.

Community Connection

‍Beyond training students, the homes built help boost local neighborhoods, too. Many go to first-time buyers or local families, showing how skilled trades education can support community development.

A Replicable Model

‍Other states and local HBA chapters are watching Maine’s program closely, seeing it as a blueprint for how partnerships between schools and builders can tackle workforce gaps. The self-sustaining nature of the model — building, selling, reinvesting — makes it realistic for other communities to adopt.

Students Leading the Way

‍Alumni of the program have gone on to apprenticeships, full-time jobs, and college degrees in construction management and related fields. Some have even returned as mentors, showing the next wave of students what’s possible with the right training and support.

Originally reported by NAHB.