Category: Veterans

Pennsylvania Construction Recep – The Top Stories for the Week Ending June 12, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania stories this week:

Proposed Muncy Data Center Moves Forward: A proposed data center in Lycoming County advanced with new site-plan details becoming public. The project would require substantial site development, utility infrastructure, and building construction, making it one of the most closely watched private-sector projects in Central Pennsylvania. READ MORE.

Homer City Redevelopment Reaches Major Milestone: The massive redevelopment of the former Homer City power plant site reached a significant construction milestone with completion of a major demolition phase. The site is being positioned for one of the largest energy and industrial redevelopment projects in Pennsylvania, creating future opportunities for heavy civil, industrial, and energy contractors. READ MORE.

Can you inspire the next generation in 30 seconds? The KCA Build the Future Video Challenge is live! We’re calling on contractors, apprentices, engineers, and construction professionals to share why they love working in the construction industry. Show us what you’re building. Show us why it matters. Show students what’s possible. The future won’t build itself. #BuildTheFuture #KCABuildsPA #ConstructionCareers READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

KCA Launches “Build the Future” Video Challenge to Inspire Pennsylvania’s Next Generation of Construction Professionals

HARRISBURG, Pa. – At the 2026 Construction Celebration, the Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) announced the launch of the KCA Build the Future Video Challenge, a statewide social media campaign designed to showcase the exciting opportunities available in Pennsylvania’s construction industry and inspire the next generation of builders.

The challenge invites construction companies, union members, apprentices, engineers, project managers, estimators, superintendents, and other industry professionals to create and share short videos—30 seconds or less—highlighting why a career in construction is rewarding, exciting, and impactful.

“The construction industry has an incredible story to tell,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director of the KCA. “Every day, our members build the schools, hospitals, roads, bridges, and facilities that keep Pennsylvania moving forward. Through this challenge, we’re encouraging construction professionals to share their stories and help young people see the opportunities available in our industry.”

Participants are encouraged to create positive, authentic videos showcasing:
• Pride in the projects they build
• The variety and excitement of construction careers
• Great wages and benefits
• Opportunities to earn while learning
• Teamwork and problem-solving
• Advanced technology and innovation
• Why they would recommend construction careers to students and young adults

Videos can be posted on TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and other social media platforms between June 9 and November 1, 2026.

To enter, participants should post their videos, using one of the following hashtags:
#BuildTheFuture
#KCABuildsPA
#ConstructionCareers

Winning videos will be selected through a combination of public engagement and judging by a panel of emerging construction professionals. KCA plans to recognize winners at a year-end industry event.

Prizes include:
• Grand Prize: $1,000
• Finalists: $250 each
• Special Recognition Awards for creativity, energy, and industry ambassadorship

The Build the Future Video Challenge is part of KCA’s ongoing commitment to workforce development and promoting careers in Pennsylvania’s construction industry.

“Construction offers outstanding opportunities for people from all backgrounds,” O’Brien said. “Whether someone is interested in the skilled trades, engineering, project management, or technology, our industry provides meaningful careers, strong wages, and the chance to build something that lasts. We look forward to seeing construction professionals across Pennsylvania help us tell that story.”

Additional contest information, rules, and updates will be available through KCA’s social media channels and member communications.

About the KCA: The Keystone Contractors Association is a leading Pennsylvania commercial construction association, representing contractors, specialty contractors, suppliers, and industry consultants committed to building a stronger construction industry throughout the Commonwealth.

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 22, 2026

Please join the KCA in taking a moment this Memorial Day weekend to remember and honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. May we carry their legacy forward with gratitude, respect and a commitment to the freedoms they protected.

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week.

Contractors Relieved by PA Supreme Court Decision in the Clearfield County Case: The case was Clearfield County v. Transystems Corp., involving defects alleged at the Clearfield County jail project that had originally been completed in 1981. Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Pennsylvania’s 12-year construction statute of repose cannot be bypassed by government entities using the doctrine of nullum tempus (“time does not run against the king”). If the county had won, public owners potentially could have pursued construction claims decades after projects were completed. The Keystone Contractors Association filed an amicus brief supporting the contractors and arguing against extending nullum tempus to statutes of repose. The Court’s opinion specifically acknowledged KCA’s participation along with several industry groups. This week the KCA hosted a seminar on the decision, to watch the video: We Dodged A Bullet, Understanding the PA Supreme Court’s Clearfield County Decision.

AI & Data Center Construction Boom Continues to Dominate: The largest story in Pennsylvania construction remains the surge in AI-driven data center development. State lawmakers are now debating new regulations tied to energy use, utility infrastructure, and clean-energy requirements for hyperscale facilities. Major projects tied to Amazon Web Services and the Homer City redevelopment continue driving huge labor demand across the trades. READ MORE.

Office-to-Residential Conversions Accelerating: Adaptive reuse continues gaining traction across Pennsylvania cities. A 120-year-old office tower in Downtown Pittsburgh is being converted into affordable housing in a $30 million redevelopment project. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 15, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

AI + Data Center Construction Boom Accelerating Across PA: The biggest trend in Pennsylvania construction right now continues to be the explosion of AI-related data center and energy infrastructure projects. The Homer City redevelopment project in Western PA — combining a massive gas-fired power plant with a large-scale data center campus — remains one of the most significant active developments in the state. At the same time, proposed data center campuses in Archbald, Lackawanna County, are triggering intense community opposition over environmental impacts, land use, and infrastructure strain. The debate is becoming a statewide issue as Pennsylvania positions itself as an AI infrastructure hub. READ MORE.

Pressure Builds Around End-of-Session Infrastructure Negotiations in Harrisburg: As the Pennsylvania legislative session enters its final stretch, negotiations continue around a major capital investment and infrastructure package. Industry groups are closely watching whether lawmakers finalize funding mechanisms that could affect public construction, transportation, and economic development projects statewide. READ MORE.

Construction Industry Watching Interest Rates Closely as Mortgage Rates Rise Again: New mortgage-rate data published this week shows borrowing costs moving back upward into the mid-6% range. Pennsylvania builders and developers continue monitoring financing conditions carefully because higher rates could slow portions of the residential and multifamily construction market during peak building season. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending May 8, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

AI data centers are becoming Pennsylvania’s next mega-construction boom
The dominant story this week was the accelerating push to build large-scale AI and hyperscale data centers across Pennsylvania. Building trades unions, energy companies, and state leaders are increasingly aligned around the opportunity because of the enormous labor demand these facilities create. Reports indicate some unions are seeing apprentice classes double in size due to anticipated work volumes. READ MORE.

UGI and Prime Data Centers unveil major Northern Tier infrastructure project
A particularly significant announcement involved a planned hyperscale AI campus in northern Pennsylvania. UGI Energy Services and Prime Data Centers are planning a dedicated natural gas pipeline and on-site power generation system to support what could become one of the state’s largest AI computing facilities.
Key details include:

  • More than $100 million in gas infrastructure investment
  • Massive projected energy demand
  • Long-term pipeline and utility construction opportunities
  • Significant rural economic development implications
    The project reflects how energy infrastructure is now driving construction strategy for tech developments in Pennsylvania. READ MORE.

Energy infrastructure and construction policy move to the forefront
A Luzerne County roundtable led by Dave McCormick focused heavily on energy permitting, infrastructure growth, and construction-related economic development. Discussions centered on how Pennsylvania can capitalize on AI-related construction demand while expanding utility and generation capacity. READ MORE.

CAPTION: This week the Harrisburg Chamber and the KCA hosted the Building Supplier Connections Mixer at Novinger’s. Seen in the photo are the hosts (L-R) Jon O’Brien of KCA, Tracy Novinger of Novinger’s and Jamal Jones of the Chamber.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending April 24, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Downtown Pittsburgh construction surge tied to NFL Draft: Multiple projects were fast-tracked or completed ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. The city is seeing a wave of public-space upgrades and infrastructure improvements tied to tourism and long-term redevelopment. Economic impact is projected at $200M+, reinforcing the role of large events in accelerating construction timelines. READ MORE.

New $31M Arts Landing Park opens (rapid delivery project): Arts Landing Park is a 4-acre, $31M project opening this week. Delivered in just 22 months, which is notably fast for a project of this scale. Includes playgrounds, performance space, and public art infrastructure. Speed-to-delivery and private funding models are becoming more common in urban redevelopment. READ MORE.

Energy Proposals in the PA House Have Mixed Receptions: Pennsylvania House Democrats have proposed an energy package aimed at lowering consumer costs, but a key provision to cap utility return on equity (ROE) is raising concerns from industry groups. Critics argue the cap could discourage billions in infrastructure investment—like grid upgrades and pipelines—potentially leading to long-term reliability issues and higher costs down the road. READ MORE.

Photo Caption: This week the ACE Mentor Central PA Chapter held its annual breakfast fundraiser, which honored this year’s scholarship winners. In the photo was the event’s keynote speaker, Rocky Bleier, who gave an inspiring address stressing the importance of resilience, teamwork and hard work. Rocky is seen with the ACE Mentor Centre County Scholarship Recipient Gilby Martin and Gilby’s family.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending March 27, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

$17B Mega Energy Project Proposed for Southwest PA: A $17 billion natural gas-powered energy hub is being planned in southwestern Pennsylvania. The project could generate 4.3 GW of electricity (≈3 million homes) and support massive data center growth. It also includes potential transmission line construction and reflects a broader surge in energy + data infrastructure builds. Why it matters: This is one of the largest potential construction investments in the state and ties directly to AI/data center demand. READ MORE.

Fast-Track Program Accelerating Major Projects: Pennsylvania’s Permit Fast Track Program is speeding up approvals for large construction projects. Key developments include: Data centers (Amazon + others); Bellwether District (1,300-acre redevelopment in Philadelphia); PennSTART transportation test facility (Westmoreland County). Some projects are moving ~1 year faster than traditional timelines. Why it matters: Faster permitting = more predictable pipelines for contractors and developers. READ MORE.

PennDOT Construction & Infrastructure Investment: PennDOT continues major investments statewide, including: 230+ million in projects across northern PA and Work on 86 miles of roadway and 59 bridges. Example active project: $83.6 million US-422 reconstruction + bridge replacements in Montgomery County. Why it matters: Public infrastructure remains a steady driver of construction demand. READ MORE.

PHOTO CAPTION: This week the KCA held seminar three of four in the Building A Strong Workforce series. Thanks to Houck for hosting this event and a special thanks to Pro-A for developing this seminar series and delivering it to the region’s construction industry. Presenter Nikki Weir of Pro-A is seen in the photo with KCA’s Jon O’Brien. UP NEXT: The final presentation in this series will be held at Pennoni, for more information visit: Building A Strong Workforce, Seminar 4 of 4: Mental Health Resources, Wednesday, Apr 22 from 12 pm to 1:30 pm.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending February 27, 2026

Here are the top stories this week:

State Investments Supporting Construction Growth: Pennsylvania’s PA SITES program awarded over $31 million to shovel-ready industrial sites, aiding major projects like Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson expansions. READ MORE.

Trends Affecting Construction Activity: There’s momentum behind life sciences and manufacturing facilities (e.g., multi-billion-dollar plants like Eli Lilly’s planned Lehigh Valley facility). READ MORE.

KCA’s AI Task Force Holds First Event: This week the KCA’s AI Task Force hosted its first educational offering. With industry professionals all over the place related to AI usage from not at all to using it, we decided to start at the foundational level with AI 101 For Construction Professionals. For the next educational offering, we’re going to dive deeper with a panel of experts with: The AI For Construction Series – Beyond the Basics (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ai-for-construction-series-part-2-beyond-the-basics-tickets-1983535435884?aff=oddtdtcreator).

To view AI 101 For Construction Professionals visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tv_3CvP0rVo

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending February 6, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Here are the top stories from Pennsylvania:

New $3.5 B Lilly Manufacturing Facility Announced: Eli Lilly selected the Lehigh Valley for a major next-generation injectable medicines plant, expected to generate about 2,000 construction jobs. READ MORE.

Southern Berks Industrial Park Breaks Ground: Construction officially started on a massive 5.5 million-sq-ft Class A industrial park in Berks County, repurposing the former Bethlehem Steel site. Phase 1 aims for completion by late 2026, creating hundreds of construction jobs and boosting economic activity. READ MORE.

Pennsylvania Construction Industry Supports PA WORKS: KCA joins industry organizations in applauding State Representative Bryan Cutler for introducing legislation to launch Pennsylvania WORKS (Workforce, Opportunity, Retention & Knowledge Scholarships). Rep Cutler’s PA WORKS cosponsor memo. To read the KCA press release click here.

PHOTO CAPTION: Last week KCA representatives joined with Cumberland County elected officials and Cumberland Valley School District Directors for a tour of two of their construction projects – Green Ridge and Eagle View schools. Tours provided by Massaro Corporation and Lobar Inc.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending January 30, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Here are the top stories from Pennsylvania:

PennDOT Invests in Rail Infrastructure: The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced a $53 million investment in rail infrastructure focused on freight mobility enhancements, track rehabilitation, and bridge work across the state — expected to support hundreds of jobs. READ MORE.

Steel Framed Affordable Housing Approach in Northeast PA: A new approach to affordable home construction using cold-formed steel rather than traditional wood framing is gaining attention in northeast Pennsylvania. This method promises greater durability and scalability and may influence future residential construction trends. READ MORE.

Building A Strong Workforce Seminar Series Kicks Off: Hosted by the KCA and its Mental Health Awareness Task Force and in partnership with Pro-A, the kickoff seminar in this series aimed to identify signs and symptoms of substance use disorder, understanding contributing risk factors, impacts on the trades and learning prevention and support strategies. To watch this seminar click here. The next seminar in this series, #2 of #4, is scheduled for February 25, noon. This hybrid event will take place at Pennoni in Mechanicsburg. For more information visit: Building A Strong Workforce, Building A Culture of Support.

Lastly, we would like to thank Constellation for offering the KCA a tour of the Crane Clean Energy Center (formally known as Three Mile Island). This week’s newsletter features a photo from the tour.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!