Category: Career Advice

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending November 14, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Pennsylvania State Budget Update: After months of negotiations, this week Pennsylvania leaders finalized a $50.1 B budget for fiscal year 2025-26m representing a 4.7% increase over last year. The agreement avoids using the Rainy Day Fund by repurposing roughly $3 B in lapsed or excess funds from state agencies and special accounts, while trimming $500 M from the Governor’s original Human Services proposal. Lawmakers also rebased agency budgets to reflect actual spending, helping contain overall growth without any broad-based tax increases or new revenues from gaming, tobacco or other alternative sources. READ MORE.

MORE State Budget News: A major centerpiece of the final deal is energy and economic reform. The budget withdraws Pennsylvania from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and includes new permitting reforms to streamline project approvals. It also continues to the Corporate Net Income Tax phase-dowm and maintains expanded business deductions – policies expected to save employers roughly $1.4 B compared to previous years. READ MORE.

LASTLY on the State Budget: On education and families, lawmakers added $50 M for school-choice scholarships and preserved cyber-charter options by rejecting a proposed statewide rate cap. The budget also boosts K-12 funding and introduces a new state Earned Income Tax Credit (10% of the federal EITC) for working Pennsylvanians. Additional investments support seniors, agriculture, and transit – all without tapping the state’s emergency reserves. Overall the 2025-26 State Budget reflects a compromise that curbs spending, protects taxpayers and strengthens Pennsylvania’s long-term fiscal stability. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week ending October 31, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Data Center Building Surge & Regulation: Pennsylvania is being positioned as a major data center and AI-infrastructure hub, with private & public investment in the tens of billions. Because of this boom, state legislators have introduced several bills (e.g., the “Data Center Act” and “Data Center Siting & Permitting Act”) to regulate siting, permitting, environmental and community impacts of large data-center builds in Pennsylvania. Key construction-themes: Brownfield & former power-plant sites being reused, requiring remediation; large utility / water / power infrastructure upgrades; workforce & trades implications (lots of construction jobs). READ MORE.

U.S. Government Pledges $80 B to Westinghouse to Build Nuclear Reactors: The U.S. government, together with the owners of Westinghouse, entered into a strategic partnership to construct a new fleet of nuclear reactors worth at least $80 billion. The technology to be used is the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design (and possibly similar large reactor types). The deal was announced in the context of an energy/industrial push: the administration wants to ramp up U.S. nuclear capacity and meet rising electricity demand (including from large data-centers/AI). READ MORE.

Delays & Freezes on Major Infrastructure/Federal Projects: With funding legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate, the government shutdown is causing certain federal projects to freeze: new solicitations are delayed, contract awards are put on hold because federal agency staff (contracting officers, inspectors) are furloughed or unpaid. Example: About $18 billion in funding pending for two large NYC projects (Hudson Tunnel Project & Second Avenue Subway Phase 2) has been put “on hold” amid the shutdown and related investigations. Example: In Chicago, ~$2.1 billion of federal infrastructure funding was paused, affecting the extension of the Red Line in the city’s South Side. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending October 24, 2025

This week’s top construction stories in Pennsylvania:

Construction, Government & Military Promote Drug Take Back Day: The KCA joined forces with state government agencies and the Department Military & Veterans Affairs to raise awareness for this year’s Drug Take Back Day, which is tomorrow, October 25, 2025. READ MORE.

Big Manufacturing Relocation & HQ Move to Pittsburgh: Eos Energy  Enterprises is committing $353 million to relocate its headquarters to Pittsburgh (North Shore) and expand manufacturing operations in Allegheny County. This is a major industrial / commercial development story: large-scale building/ expansion, new jobs, and sizeable investment in built infrastructure. The HQ will be 40,000 sq ft. The manufacturing expansion is in a 432,000 sq ft facility in Marshall Township, PA. READ MORE.

Data Center Siting Legislation Could Shape Large Commercial Builds: Senate Bill 991, the “Data Center Siting and Permitting Act”, is moving in Pennsylvania and may significantly affect how large-scale data‐center buildings are developed in the state. A “commercial” building sector angle: data centers are large industrial/commercial facilities with high power, cooling and structural build requirements. The draft legislation aims to reduce red tape and attract data‐center investment. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending October 17, 2025

This week’s top construction news in Pennsylvania:

AEC Industry Unites to Raise Scholarship Funds: The KCA held its annual sporting clays event this week, attracting construction executives, labor leaders and policy makers. To view the pictures from this event: 2025 KCA Sporting Clays Event.

Does Time Run Against the King? Clearfield County Jail Case Before Supreme Court: A legal challenge before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is seeking to reinterpret or reduce the 12-year statute of repose for construction liability. If successful, this could expose architects, engineers, and contractors to far longer liability periods than under current law. READ MORE.

$39 M State Funding to Prepare Shovel Ready SITES: Pennsylvania is allocating $39 million through its PA SITES initiative to ready 11 industrial parcels (improving infrastructure, utilities, access, remediation) to accelerate construction once investors commit. The aim is to reduce delays and attract large-scale development to underused land. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending October 10, 2025

This week’s top construction news in Pennsylvania:

$1.6 B Overhaul of Montogomery Lock & Dam Underway: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is demolishing an auxiliary lock chamber as part of a $1.59 billion rehabilitation project near Monaca, PA. The new plan includes replacing one of the historic chambers with a larger “primary” lock over the next several years. READ MORE.

PA Turnpike Reveals Future Interchange Designs: As toll plazas are being removed, the PA Turnpike unveiled renderings of reconstructed interchanges under its Open Road Tolling (ORT) initiative. The designs focus on safety, better sight lines, and reduced environmental impact. READ MORE.

First 3D Printed Home Breaks Ground: Habitat for Humanity of Greater Centre County, with X-Hab 3D and local partners, has begun construction of Pennsylvania’s first 3D-printed home. The structure will have 3 bedrooms / 1.5 bathrooms; exterior walls printed in concrete, interior framing done traditionally. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 26, 2025

This week’s top construction news in Pennsylvania:

State Government Building Projects: The Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) has listed several high-profile state building or restoration projects. Two notable ones are: The New Pennsylvania State Police Academy, which recently reached a major construction milestone; and, restoration/ upkeep efforts for the Governor’s Residence. READ MORE.

University of Scranton Campus Upgrades: The University wrapped up a number of building and landscaping projects this month, but the most noticeable upgrade was the addition of Weiss Hall, a four-story, 90,000 square-foot academic and community resource building on Madison Avenue. READ MORE.

KCA Scholarship Program: The KCA Scholarship Program Application has been updated. For more information, please visit: https://www.keystonecontractors.com/KCA-Scholarship/.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending September 5, 2025

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

Penn State Construction Update: Multiple transformative construction projects are ongoing at Penn State’s University Park campus, as reported by Centre Daily Times. Notable projects include the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation, the recently completed Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building, and the $115 million Osmond North Building, set for completion in January 2027. Additionally, a ground lease was approved for a rehabilitation hospital at Innovation Park, though rezoning issues remain. These projects are redefining the campus and student experience in Centre County. READ MORE.

Yazoo Mills To Build 3rd Plant in York: Yazoo Mills, North America’s largest independent manufacturer of paper tubes and cores—is expanding in Hanover (York County) with a new 107,000-square-foot facility. The $14 million investment includes five high-speed production lines and is expected to be completed by January 2026, boosting capacity and operational efficiency. READ MORE.

PA Turnpike Installs Solar Microgrid, Aiming to Be First Sustainable Superhighway by 2040: The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has begun constructing a solar microgrid to power its Western Regional Office (Troop T barrack) in New Stanton, Westmoreland County. The initiative began on September 3, and reflects the Commission’s push for sustainable infrastructure improvements. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Mike Sheehan Recognized as KCA’s 2025 Top Young Leader

The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) has named, Mike Sheehan at Penn Installations as a recipient of the 2025 KCA Top Young Leader Award—an honor given annually to recognize emerging leaders who are making a significant impact in the construction industry, KCA started this award in 2018.  

Known for his leadership on key projects and passion for innovation, Sheehan has played a crucial role in driving success at Penn Installations and across the broader construction community. He is active in promoting industry safety, workforce development, and professional mentorship. He also volunteers as a firefighter for the Dauntless Fire Company in Ebensburg, PA in Cambria County.  

“This award highlights the incredible contributions of young professionals who are shaping the future of construction in Pennsylvania,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of KCA. “Mike Sheehan has gone above and beyond—not just on the job site, but in building a stronger, more resilient industry and he does the same in his community.” 

The award was formally presented during the 2025 Construction Celebration held on June 9th, where colleagues and peers from across Pennsylvania’s construction industry gathered to recognize this year’s top achievers. Click to view the event video recap. 

Media Contact: 
Jon O’Brien 
Executive Director 
Keystone Contractors Association 
(717) 731-6272 
jobrien@keystonecontractors.com 

Pennsylvania Weekly Construction Recap – Top Stories for Week Ending August 29, 2025

On Labor Day, we celebrate every worker whose skill, commitment, and perseverance help build the America we’re proud to call home. Happy Labor Day!

On this year’s Labor Day, we celebrate every worker whose skill, commitment, and perseverance help build the America we’re proud to call home.

Here are the top construction stories in Pennsylvania this week:

Restoring An Icon: Fallingwater Renovation Underway: A $7 million restoration project is underway at Frank Lloyd Wright’s famous Fallingwater estate in the Laurel Highlands. The two-year effort—set to wrap up by spring 2026—aims to eliminate chronic water infiltration by replacing roofs, repairing steel frames, injecting nearly 12 tons of grout into stone masonry, and restoring exterior walls. The work must uphold UNESCO and National Register standards, making execution especially complex. READ MORE.

$1.6 B Montgomery Lock & Dam Modernization: In Monaca, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun a $1.59 billion rehabilitation of the Montgomery Lock and Dam on the Ohio River. The project includes demolishing the auxiliary lock chamber and building a new, larger 110-ft × 600-ft primary lock. Completion is targeted for 2033, and work remains in early stages. READ MORE.

Fast-Tracking Renewable Energy Permits Ahead of Federal Deadline: Pennsylvania is accelerating wind and solar project approvals to qualify for expiring federal tax credits before July 2026, amid President Trump’s phase-out policy. Gov. Josh Shapiro is advocating for a state energy siting board to streamline permitting, similar to Michigan’s 2023 law, to cut bureaucratic delays and boost construction starts. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

KCA Honors Mikayla Ebling with 2025 Top Young Leader Award

The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) is pleased to announce that Mikayla Ebeling, at McCrossin, has been awarded the 2025 Top Young Leader Award. This prestigious honor recognizes rising professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate strong leadership, dedication to the construction industry, and a commitment to excellence. KCA started doing this award in 2018.  

“Mikayla Ebeling represents the future of our industry—driven, innovative, and community-minded,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of KCA. “We’re proud to recognize such an inspiring leader who continues to elevate the standards of our profession.” 

With a background at West Virgina University and majored in Civil Engineering, Ebeling has quickly become a standout figure in the construction field. She has led major projects, mentored younger professionals, and actively supported workforce development and safety initiatives. 

The award was presented during the 2025 Construction Celebration held on June 9th at Harrisburg Hilton, where industry professionals from across Pennsylvania gathered to celebrate leadership and collaboration. Click to view the event recap. 

Media Contact: 
Jon O’Brien 
Executive Director 
Keystone Contractors Association 
(717) 731-6272 
jon@keystonecontractors.com