Home build program helps Green Bay students earn credit and hands-on construction skills

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Green Bay high school students are constructing homes and building their resumes in one fell swoop.

It's all part of the Bridges Construction & Renovation program -- a collaboration between the Green Bay Area Public School District, NeighborWorks Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College.

Throughout the 2024-25 academic year, juniors and seniors from all four Green Bay high schools (East, West, Southwest and Preble) worked together to build a two-story home from the ground up. It's located at 158 N. Maple Avenue.

"This is my second year doing the program. I think we're doing pretty good. A little bit more difficult of a home -- two stories this year, a little bit larger square footage -- but we were able to get most of it done. There's still some tweaks that we've got to get done inside yet," said Bridges instructor Chris Ziegler...

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Leo's notes: Through the Bridges Construction & Renovation program in Green Bay, students are not only helping address local affordable housing needs, but also gaining direct pathways into skilled trades careers. The program reflects a broader trend emerging statewide: solving the housing shortage will require more than financing and zoning reform alone. Expanding the construction workforce, creating early career pipelines, and connecting education directly to community development are becoming essential components of long-term housing strategy.