Governor Greg Gianforte joined Emmy-winning TV host Mike Rowe, NeighborWorks Great Falls, and Wells Fargo this week to celebrate progress on the Great Falls High School House Program and announce a $200,000 investment from Wells Fargo to support the hands-on workforce development initiative.
The governor visited the project site to receive updates from student builders and highlight the program’s role in training the next generation of skilled trades professionals. “As Montanans, we believe in the value of hard work and the dignity of every job,” Gianforte said. “The High School House Program allows students to gain in-demand skills to meet our workforce needs while helping more Montana families achieve the dream of homeownership.”
Founded in 1997, the High School House Program is a collaboration between NeighborWorks Great Falls, Great Falls Public Schools, and the City of Great Falls. Each year, students from Great Falls High School and C. M. Russell High School build a single-family home from the ground up under the guidance of skilled instructors and local tradespeople. The completed homes are sold to first-time homebuyers with low or moderate incomes. The current project marks the 48th home built through the program.
Wells Fargo’s $200,000 donation will assist with project supplies, student clothing, and the acquisition of additional land for future homebuilding classes. “By investing in hands-on education, Wells Fargo is opening doors for young people while building stronger, more resilient communities across Montana,” said Jason Rosenberg, Head of Public Affairs at Wells Fargo.
Students participating in the program emphasized the real-world skills they are gaining. “Through the program, my work ethic and patience have grown. The skills that we are learning as high school students are something I will know how to do for the rest of my life,” said C. M. Russell High School senior Jentri Nelson.
Mike Rowe, founder of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, praised the program’s national significance. “Programs like this prove that when you give young people real skills and real responsibility, they rise to the challenge,” he said.
During the event, Governor Gianforte also signed a proclamation declaring November 13, 2025, as High School House Day in Montana, emphasizing the program’s alignment with the state’s 406 JOBS Initiative, which aims to strengthen Montana’s workforce through career, college, military, and entrepreneurship pathways.
Since taking office, Gianforte has prioritized expanding work-based learning and apprenticeships, enabling every school district in Montana to create individualized, career-focused learning paths and supporting a record number of apprentices across the state.