Inmates must complete one of two vocational training prerequisites – building trades or horticulture – to enter the building program. The curriculum has been standardized through a cooperative effort with the state departments of Education and Career Development. Union and non-union contractors reviewed and gave their stamp of approval on the new building trades curriculum. In addition, the Michigan Nursery and Landscape Association met with program staff and reviewed the horticulture and landscape curriculum.

Inmates interview for jobs in the program. Not only need they be proficient in the skills needed to build a house or design landscaping, they must be able to work effectively with others. Once an inmate completes his or her course work and is accepted into the program, he or she is assigned to a building or horticulture site where the inmate can put learning to practical experience. For the builders, they may build wall panels, mill trim or construct cabinets. Those in horticulture provide the horticulture items and landscape design.

For the builders, a last step in their training is the building of complete homes at the Saginaw Correctional Facility in Freeland. A new site was developed at the facility where three homes approximating 1,200 square feet can be built at one time.