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.
Concrete is a key building material for both residential and commercial spaces, with the global market estimated to be over $395 billion. And this is really not surprising, since concrete is the most widely used building material in the world.
This brings us to the crucial role that a concrete contractor plays in helping you build your facility.
With each project requiring its own unique set of skills and industry knowledge, connecting with the right contractor who will understand your requirements is not an easy task.
Here’s a checklist of some of the most sought-after qualities in a concrete contractor:
First impressions really do matter and if someone cannot pitch their services in a convincing manner, then their credibility is certainly questionable.
An expert concrete company will know how to walk the customer through the entire process – from mixing concrete to delivery and pouring – and will stay openly communicative about the timeline, overall costs, etc.
In short, a good contractor or company will have a reputation for finishing up their projects on time and within the specified costs.
This is one of the most important factors to look out for when selecting a concrete contractor; they should have the right license and certification for the job.
Make sure the license is recent and up-to-date, especially since it needs to be renewed periodically.
Additionally, contractors that are registered with industry associations such as the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA) tend to stay on top of the latest news in the construction industry and prevalent safety standards.
One essential aspect of hiring vetted concrete contractors is to have a look at the years of experience that they have and whether they will be able to do justice to the task at hand.
In a labor-intensive industry like construction and building, experience helps build up on the contractor’s skills and industry knowledge. For instance, certain aspects of on-field work can only be mastered through experience.
If you feel that your project needs a highly-qualified and experienced contractor, then make sure that you look at their past record. Remember, a contractor who has been in business longer will definitely know how to work around time delays, back logs, and other such problems.
Customer testimonials are one of the best ways to judge a company’s reputation and credibility in the business.
Research as to what people have to say about a certain concrete contractor and then make your choice. It is recommended that you stay away from contractors that have negative reviews online, as this could signal negligence on their part. Websites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Home Advisor usually have a list of credible companies operating in different locations, so it’s always wise to check with them.
A competent concrete contractor will stand by their principles of integrity and honesty, and never compromise on the quality of the raw materials.
If possible, try to track down the supplier from which that particular contractor sources their ingredients. Simply put, what goes into laying the building blocks of a structure or pavement, driveway, patio or sidewalk, goes a long way in ensuring its longevity.
External factors such as unpredictable weather, rain or other such unforeseen challenges can significantly affect the project deadline.
In such a case, it is important that the contractor that you have hired is experienced enough to tackle such issues that come their way.
Competency is all about keeping contingency factors in mind and working your way around it. A backup plan will ensure that any uncalled for delays do not interfere with project completion.
A comparative analysis between the price quotes that different contractors provide should also be a determining factor.
Be on the lookout for any hidden charges that the contractor has not clearly identified in the quote or contract. Consider it as a red flag and avoid doing business with such contractors as they are usually not trustworthy.
A reliable contractor will know the real costs involved in building or revamping your facility and if they are true to their work, they will never try to hit you with hidden costs.
Additionally, here are a few questions that you may ask the contractor before taking them on board for your project:
All these and many more factors that may seem inconsequential at first can later become roadblocks for the successful completion of a project.
Hence, it is recommended that you start by identifying a list of potential contractors and then evaluate them on the factors highlighted above.
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.