PERU – After nearly completing construction of a new house in Peru Center, Tyler Child now realizes that there’s a lot more to building a home than he thought.

“This is a good trade to know,” said the Mountain Valley High School senior of the two years he has devoted to learning building skills under Region 9 instructor Lloyd Williams.

This is the ninth home the building trades program has built, most in partnership with Community Concepts. Most have been in Rumford, while others have been built in East Bethel and Rumford Center.

Williams said the second year group of building trades students tackles a new home. The first year students build a shed or utility building, complete their related academics and learn the theories behind construction, while learning the skills needed to construct any building.

He said students close in the new home before snow flies, then work through the winter on the interior. By spring, most of the house is completed, and an open house is held, and Community Concepts sells it.

Although Nate Marston, also a MVHS senior, plans to go into autobody work at a Connecticut vocational school, he’s glad he enrolled in the building program because it has taught him responsibility.

“When Mr. Williams assigns us jobs, it’s our responsibility to get it done, and just don’t half do it,” he said.

The house that will become the home of an eligible family has three bedrooms and a daylight basement, and sits on about two acres.

Mike Burke, chief operating officer for Community Concepts, said the agency buys the lot and materials, designs the home, and provides some guidance on construction.

“We can help with some financing, too,” he said.

Williams sees the partnership with Community Concepts as a great way to teach students how to do construction and as a way to send students off into the world with some of life skills they will need.

He said Community Concepts provides some scholarship money, and Region 9 makes sure every building trades student leaves with the textbook on construction, hard hats, safety glasses and gloves.

His class doesn’t do everything at the houses they build, such as plumbing, electrical work and other specialty jobs, but they do learn framing, roofing, cabinet installation and other skills.

An open house sponsored by Region 9 and Community Concepts is scheduled for 9 a.m. until noon May 31 in Peru Center.