The leading voice for the crushed stone, ready mixed concrete, sand and gravel, and cement industries' community.
PELA is a 10-month hybrid program with online and in-person educational sessions and networking opportunities.
Careers in the Aggregates, Concrete & Cement Industries
The Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) is the industry’s unified voice, representing more than 200 member companies across the state.
Creating a unified and strong voice for our industry.
PACA monitors and analyzes local, state and federal regulations and advocates for a balanced approach by the regulators.
PACA builds a bridge between our members and our partners at PennDOT, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission along with Pennsylvania’s construction industry to further the use of our materials to the benefit of the commonwealth.
One of the most effective tools in government relations for an industry is a robust advocacy/grassroots strategy.
In the last legislative session, we contributed over $275,000 to our political champions.
November 2025 at Hotel Hershey in Hershey, PA (PACA members only event).
PACA offers comprehensive concrete certification programs for ACI, NRMCA, and PennDOT in the central Pennsylvania area.
Membership has its privileges - most of PACA's events are open to PACA members only.
PACA conducts numerous education and training events during the year.
Choose concrete for your next parking lot project.
Streets built with concrete are built to last, consider concrete for your next project.
Concrete's strong, resilient and the choice for your next building or bridge.
PACA works with the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) to convert your parking lot or building project to concrete without hurting your bottom line.
PACA drives a member-approved strategic plan to increase market share and engages specifiers and owners on the value of concrete in their projects.
This program provides free continuing education to the design and specifying communities. There are currently four courses available, ranging from 30 minutes to 60 minutes focused on the cement, aggregates and concrete industries. You'll receive a certificate of completion once you pass a quiz. The bookmarking feature allows you to leave the course and resume where you left off when you return.
Every spring, after the winter snow and ice have disappeared from the surface of concrete driveways, sidewalks and other exterior flatwork; homeowners are uncovering what first appear to be surface defects that were not apparent in the fall or when the concrete was first placed. The concrete now has a number of blemishes, pock marks, or areas where the surface of the concrete flaked off. This condition, known as scaling, can be initiated and exacerbated by the use of deicers.
First, be sure that the concrete has been properly specified. Concrete that will be subject to winter conditions should be at least 4000 psi, have a maximum water/ cementitious ratio of .45, and contain 5%-7% air entertainment. It must also have been placed, finished and cured properly. You should then avoid the use of deicing agents during the critical first year after placement and use the proper deicers in moderation in the years that follow. The appropriate sealers can provide additional protection.
Under no circumstances should a deicer be used on concrete that has not reached sufficient strength to provide resistance to damage from freezing and thawing. Recent research has shown this value to be at least 4000 psi. While deicers are efficient in melting snow, they can play particular havoc with freshly placed concrete. Deicers should not be used on concrete less than one year old. Typical deicers used on concrete may contain any of the following chemicals:
Many deicers have the label “safe” in large letters on the front of the bag, however the fine print on the back of the bag lists many conditions on its use. Be sure to check the labeling to know what chemicals are in your deicer.
Sodium chloride or calcium chloride based deicers are generally considered acceptable for use on good quality dense concrete. However, deicers containing magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium magnesium acetate, urea, ammonium sulfate, and nitrogen salts have been shown to cause much higher rates of deterioration. Never use deicers with ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate as these chemicals are too aggressive and will easily destroy a concrete surface.
Concrete sealers can provide increased protection for your exterior concrete. Silane or siloxane based penetrating sealers provide the highest level of resistance to the damaging effects of deicers, and freezing and thawing. Water repellent sealers, specifically designed for use on concrete will also provide added protection.
This post is part of our “Concrete Difference” series and may be downloaded here. The entire series may be viewed here.
February 22, 2024
Proficient carbon calculations are increasingly important as “Buy Clean” legislation proliferates. New York and Colorado are among the states that now require carbon calcs for public projects. An estimated 40% of emissions are from the built environment. According to one estimate, the planet’s total building floor area will double by 2060. This makes the concrete industry a key player in the quest for net-zero emissions products and projects.
February 15, 2024
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) notes that cement production is “so carbon intensive that even though cement makes up less than 15% of concrete by weight, it accounts for 90% of concrete’s carbon footprint.” The use of fossil fuels to fire cement kilns is a key source of these carbon emissions.
February 08, 2024
In the quest for reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, everyone has a role to play. In the concrete industry, this includes everyone from manufacturers to contractors, and from trade associations to governments. Here is a review of some of the major initiatives impacting concrete’s sustainability.
February 01, 2024
Ordinary Portland cement (OPC) requires high-temperature calcination of limestone. It is possible to use various emissions-reducing pozzolans in concrete. Fly ash comes from coal-fired power plants. Ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) comes from steel mills. Another SCM is metakaolin derived from kaolin.
The program is delivered in one (1) module and it should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. You will receive a certificate of completion once you pass the quiz. The bookmarking feature will allow you to leave the course and resume where you left off when you return.