HBA Support Helps Student-Built Home Program Enter 10th Year

Every October, NAHB and the residential construction industry celebrate Careers in Construction Month, a time to raise awareness of the rewarding opportunities available in the skilled trades. This article is part of a series highlighting the month.

For nearly a decade, the Lakes Region Builders and Remodelers Association (LRBRA) has partnered with the local J. Oliva Huot Technical Center to strengthen New Hampshire's residential construction workforce and prepare students for careers in the industry.

Through a student-built home program introduced by the LRBRA, participants in Huot's Building Construction and Plumbing, Heating and HVAC tracks construct a fully functioning modular home every year. Construction is underway now for the program's 10th home.

“This program gives back to the community," said LRBRA Executive Officer Lorella Volpe. "Once you get some people in the door that help at a build, they tell their friends and it grows.”

The LRBRA funds all building materials through member donations, sponsorships and partnerships with local suppliers. While Huot instructors oversee the day-to-day training, LRBRA members volunteer at builds to demonstrate proper technique and host job-shadowing days and summer internship programs for students.

The partnership began with student-built tiny homes and has since evolved into 435-square-foot modular homes. Once completed and inspected, the home is sold on the open market to help fund the next year's project and scholarships for students.

In 2025-26, the LRBRA donated nearly $8,000 to local students for toolbox scholarships, which provide tools for students entering the industry, and college scholarships for those seeking construction-related degrees.

Volpe said the program has helped keep talented students in the area, with many graduates going on to work for member companies. While New Hampshire does not require licensing for builders, it does for plumbing and HVAC professionals. The program allows students to begin completing the educational requirements while still in high school and earn the nationally recognized OSHA-10 certification.

"We see a need in our area, and we care about the kids and this program," Volpe said. "I think a core value of the LRBRA is being a caring and tight-knit community."

For HBAs interested in creating a similar partnership, Volpe said the first step is simple: connect with local schools and career and technical education centers. She said attending high school career fairs is an easy way to get a foot in the door.

“It comes down to having a trusting relationship with the school," Volpe said. "Start by having the conversation and building partnerships with the schools around you and the people at the schools who can help."

Watch this video of the home built during the 2025-26 school year.