Carroll County Career & Tech launches tiny-home practicum to train construction students

John Mershing, instructor in the Carroll County Career & Tech carpentry program, told the Board of Carroll County Commissioners on Thursday that the school has started a tiny-home practicum to give students real-world construction experience working with contractors, inspectors and government officials.

"We should have a practicum project where we bring all the areas together, where they have the opportunity to work with all the contractors, with the government officials, and everybody who's involved," Mershing said, describing the educational goals of the project and the students’ role in raising start-up capital.

Staff and the Maryland Building Officials Association said the timing is right, noting updates in building codes and growing interest in accessory dwelling units and tiny-home construction. A representative of the association offered to make another donation to the program.

Commissioners praised the partnership as a way to build workforce skills and connect students to industry. The county and Career & Tech representatives discussed plans for documenting the project on a YouTube channel and for using sales of future units to sustain the program.

County staff recognized Jason Green for assistance on permitting and implementation, and presented the commissioners with commemorative plans from the program. Commissioners and staff took a group photograph at the conclusion of the presentation.

The project will remain primarily educational; the program’s leaders said their current focus is training quality craftsmen, while marketing and sales are secondary priorities.