DOWAGIAC – Southwestern Michigan College Construction Trades Green Technology students received hands-on experience recently while working on the Niles-Buchanan Habitat for Humanity project in Niles. The first-year students worked with Habitat volunteers over a four-week period building the floor over the basement walls and framing the house, located at the corner of Ferry and Ninth streets.
This is the second Habitat home the Southwestern Michigan College students have worked on with the Niles-Buchanan organization and the third Habitat project, building a similar home in Dowagiac last year.
“It has been great,” said Joan Schmidt, president of the Niles-Buchanan Habitat organization. “It is a good thing for both of us. The students get experience, and we get young people to help.”
Construction trades instructor Larry Wilson said the students are getting “hands-on experience” working on the Habitat house as well as contributing to a community service project.
The Southwestern Michigan College program offers a certificate or two-year degree in Construction Trades Green Technology, providing students with a foundation in ‘green’ building under the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) guidelines.