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.
Working in the ever-expanding construction industry means you need to stay well-informed of industry trends. Perhaps you're in charge of an upcoming paving project. So, you're curious about the benefits of using concrete vs asphalt cement for the project.
Well, the good news is that you've come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below is everything you need to know about why choosing concrete is in your best interest.
There are a variety of benefits to choosing concrete over asphalt cement. For one thing, concrete is a more sustainable material for the overall environment.
An emphasis on eco-friendly construction practices could do wonders for your organization's public image. After all, even experts recognize the value of sustainable branding for businesses.
As a responsible party managing a paving project, you have a specific budget to stick to. This includes the budget regarding the paving materials themselves.
Well, you might notice upon initial research and estimation that asphalt has a lower upfront cost as pavement. Concrete can cost anywhere from $2 to $5 more per square foot than asphalt. Still, the long-term benefits of paving with concrete make that initial investment worthwhile.
For one thing, asphalt requires significant repairs and resurfacing. This is the case often as soon as six months after the original paving project. Concrete, though, can last several decades longer than asphalt with minimal repair.
If you want to consider long-term profits for your paving project, concrete is the ideal material for you. Asphalt requires too much upkeep and further financial resources.
Perhaps the most significant advantage of concrete pavement over asphalt is that of sustainability. It might be surprising to you that the root of this eco-friendly characteristic is concrete's light color. Asphalt's dark, almost black appearance causes more problems than it solves.
The great thing about the lightness of concrete is that it doesn't generate too much heat in the area. This contributes to a lower overall carbon footprint. In other words, even the environment itself would prefer you to work with concrete over asphalt!
Another perk of the brightness of concrete is the fact that city planners don't have to use as much electricity to keep streets well-lit at night. This saves money for all the taxpayers in the area as a result. For more specific details, keep reading about the sustainable benefits of using concrete.
When you decide to work with concrete, be willing to get creative when it comes to any potential decorations. Concrete is much easier to work with as far as flexibility and durability of the material go.
That's why you might see even ornate concrete designs in some of the wealthier neighborhoods in your area. It's true that customized concrete pavements or even sculptures can cost a pretty penny. Still, the aesthetic effects are worth it for many project managers and designers.
On the other hand, asphalt is not nearly as easy to work with. If it's in an irregular shape, it can be too brittle to last. In fact, that's why asphalt requires so much repair and maintenance on a consistent basis.
Instead, work with concrete for any paving, building, or even art project. Its flexibility and toughness won't let you down.
Don't hire just anyone to pour concrete for your upcoming pavement project, by the way. Instead, it's worthwhile to do plenty of research ahead of time about that company's brand.
For instance, do they have a significant online presence that they clearly invest in? Businesses who take pride in their brand's reputation with their consumers often take pride in the quality of their work, too. That's the best way they can hope to stand out ahead of local competition.
After all, it's a vast and growing industry in the world of modern construction practices. In fact, consider the following statistic regarding concrete contractors throughout the country. It suggests that in the single year of 2019, the market size was $49 billion overall.
You should also check out any available online reviews or testimonials from previous customers. Doing so could give you great insight as to what kind of experience you can expect from that company, too.
In addition, don't hire a concrete contractor who doesn't make you feel one hundred percent comfortable. They should prioritize customer service every step of the way when interacting with you.
If your potential contractor doesn't seem to want to give you the time of day, let it go. You deserve to only work with concrete experts who care about all of your expectations with this pavement project.
At this point in the article, you have a thorough understanding of the benefits of concrete vs asphalt cement in pavement projects. Choosing concrete will showcase your organization's brand as a sustainable one.
Your customers will appreciate that dedication to eco-friendly practices. That public image can have long-lasting positive effects on your business's overall profit margins.
Other than sustainability, there are plenty of other reasons to choose concrete instead of asphalt for your paving project. Concrete doesn't generate as much heat as the blackness of asphalt, for one thing. Plus, concrete can be a more affordable pavement material in the long run.
Still, it's your responsibility to only hire a reliable concrete contractor. The fortunate thing is that we can help you along those lines.
That's why we encourage you to browse through the rest of our website today. We want to help ensure your upcoming pavement project is designed and completed efficiently.
To start, check out our blog where we feature modern trends in the paving and building design industry. Then, take the time to see how our concrete paving services could benefit you.
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.