The Rockbridge County High School (RCHS) Building Trades students and their instructor took top honors for the Youth Group Effort of the Year at the 20th Annual Virginia Statewide Neighborhood Conference in September. The award recognizes a youth group that has made a significant impact or contribution in their community. The Building Trades curriculum at RCHS provides students with methods and techniques in building construction, preparing them to enter the trade upon graduation. RCHS was recognized for its work with Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity in which the students have helped to build 18 homes for area families since 2001.
Since 2014, the RCHS students have helped to build five modular homes for the Greenhouse Village affordable housing project. One home is built each year, and then transported less than a mile to the site. Now in Phase II, Greenhouse Village is a multi-phase partnership between Rockbridge Area Habitat for Humanity and Rockbridge County to construct homes and build infrastructure for roads, water and sewer. The project is funded through the Community Development Block Grant Program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. The CSPDC provides grant administration services to the County for this project.