Build Smart Institute

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We're looking back and celebrating the graduates of our June CORE Fundamentals of Construction class!

From their first day in the lab to earning nationally recognized credentials, these students demonstrated determination and a commitment to building a brighter future. Along the way, they gained hands-on experience and the confidence to take the next step toward rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

Every Build Smart graduate represents more than a personal achievement, they're helping build the workforce our communities depend on.

Congratulations again to our June CORE graduates! We're proud to have been part of your journey and look forward to seeing all you accomplish.

The next CORE Fundamentals of Construction class begins August 24th and enrollment is open now!

https://buildsmartinstitute.classe365.com/form/view/application

And the first NRV Future Builders Academy is a wrap! 13 students completed their first carpentry camp, where they learned about jobsite safety and tools, participated in job site tours of commercial and residential projects, and built three mini structures! Today, they finished their projects, earned their certificates, and received their first starter tool kit!

So many partners helped ensure this week was a success, and we want to give a major shout out to all involved.

Build Smart Institute provided the instruction, projects and were with the kids all week. Thank you Curtis, Barbara, and Stephanie!

Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley provided the location for the camp.

Virginia Housing provided the funding to ensure the camp was free for students.

Builders and Stateson Homes provided our job site tours. Nancy with Legacy Builders NRV and Brooke with Costen Floors Inc volunteered during our site tours.

Jacob with Costen Floors, David with ReDeck Virginia, Travis with Gutter Works, Sierra with Foresight Design Services, Wes with Setter Construction, LLC, and George with Slate Creek Builders, LLC volunteered their time to help with the hands on build during the week.

Our tool kits were made possible through partnerships with Virginia Career Works New River/Mount Rogers Region, Capps Home Building Center, New River Valley Building Supply, Baseline Solar Solutions, Blue Ridge Design Build, SAS Builders, Legacy Builders NRV, Inc. Yoder Custom Homes, and Real Property Management Insight.

Thank you to everyone for a great week!

Day three is a wrap! Students had a great job site tour with Stateson Homes at their Westhill development where they learned about how homes are built from foundation to finished products. Thank you to Adam and the team at Stateson for spending their morning with the group! Thank you as well to Brooke and Adam with Costen Floors Inc for helping and providing the trade partner perspective of the home build. After lunch, the students finished the day back at the classroom where they began cutting the materials for their structure builds! Stay tuned for more tomorrow!

Thank you to our partners Build Smart Institute!

This free camp would not be possible without the generous support of Virginia Housing!

Day two of NRV Future Builders Camp is in the books! The students participated in a job site tour of new apartments and learned how to use a variety of tools. Tomorrow, they will have a tour of a subdivision under construction, and they get to start their hands on build experience! Stay tuned for more!

Thank you to our partners Build Smart Institute!

This free camp would not be possible without the generous support of Virginia Housing!

We are so excited that the first NRV Future Builders Academy Carpentry Camp kicked off this morning! This free event is a partnership between the New River Valley Home Builders Association and Build Smart Institute and supported by Habitat for Humanity of the New River Valley and Virginia Housing. Students started the week with safety and tools overviews and they will visit two job sites and get hands-on building experiences before the week is over. More sneak peaks into the week to come!

🔨 The frame is going up! 🏗️

This week, the Franklin County Future Builders Academy - Carpentry Week campers picked up right where Concrete Week left off, transforming a foundation into a permanent structure on Ferrum College's campus.

From measuring and framing to safely using tools and working together as a crew, these builders are gaining hands-on experience while watching their hard work come to life.

Being on campus has made this experience even more special. Campers are also getting a glimpse of college life beyond the jobsite, as we look ahead to Friday’s campus tour and enjoy lunch in the dining hall every day!

This week is powered by the strong collaboration and generous support of our partners, Virginia Housing, Procon Inc., Ferrum College, and the Franklin County Office of Economic Development. We are deeply grateful for their enthusiastic support, shared vision, and commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for these students.

Stay tuned to see the completed structure as this talented group puts on the finishing touches!

The first day of Franklin County Future Builders Academy - Concrete Week is officially in the books, and our campers wasted no time getting to work!

Students explored jobsite safety, learned about blueprints, discovered the importance of site preparation and planning, and got an up-close look at the equipment that helps bring big projects to life.

Campers are putting their learning to practice by helping build a permanent structure on Ferrum College's campus. Every lesson this week contributes to a project that will leave a lasting impact.

A huge thank you to Solid Rock, Inc for bringing their boom truck and giving our campers a firsthand look at the construction industry in action.

Future Builders Academy is made possible through the incredible partnership of Procon Inc., Ferrum College, Virginia Housing, Franklin County Office of Economic Development, and Build Smart Institute, giving young people the opportunity to develop real-world skills while exploring rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

Stay tuned for more photos later this week!

As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we're reminded that strong communities are built by skilled hands and a shared commitment to creating a better future.

At Build Smart Institute, we're proud to continue that tradition by preparing the next generation of construction professionals who will build the homes, businesses, and communities of tomorrow.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Independence Day as we celebrate 250 years of building America's future together.

🎉Joseph has been selected as the recipient of this quarter's alumni prize with Build Smart Institute!🎉

Thank you, Joseph, for sharing your experience and continuing to be part of our alumni community. We appreciate hearing from our graduates and wish you continued success!

If you are an alumni and interested in learning how to enter the next drawing, give us a call at (540) 900.3340. We'd love to hear from you!

The countdown is almost over and we can barely contain our excitement!

This Monday, we'll welcome an incredible group of youth to Franklin County Future Builders Academy - Concrete Week and Carpentry Week at Ferrum College for two weeks of hands-on learning and construction career exploration.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners, Ferrum College, Procon Inc. and Virginia Housing, whose generous support is making this opportunity possible for local youth.

Get ready for a week of building, creating, and discovering what's possible. We can't wait to share the experience with you. Watch for photos throughout the week!