Tag: politics

KCA Commercial Construction Intelligence Report, July 31, 2026, Edition

This was a quieter news week for project announcements, but the week’s report highlights several significant funding announcements and continued momentum in Pennsylvania’s commercial construction market. While there were relatively few major private-sector project announcements over the past seven days, state capital investments and AI-related industrial development continue to drive opportunities.

Executive Summary

Top Story: The Commonwealth’s nearly $445 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) awards continues to shape the project pipeline, with funding supporting 356 projects statewide. These awards will move numerous public, institutional, and community construction projects toward procurement over the coming months. READ MORE.

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Major Project Announcements & Groundbreakings

1. Statewide RACP Awards Continue to Feed the Construction Pipeline

The Shapiro Administration’s recent RACP announcements remain the most consequential construction news affecting Pennsylvania contractors.

Highlights include:

  • $122.5 million for 129 projects in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
  • $109.3 million for 68 projects across South Central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.
  • $134.4 million for 100 projects in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
  • $26.1 million for 17 projects in North Central and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Why it matters: RACP funding supports design and construction of economic development, workforce, healthcare, public safety, cultural, and infrastructure projects. Contractors should begin monitoring engineering and bidding opportunities as recipients move projects into procurement.

2. York County Receives Multiple Construction Investments

Among the newly highlighted RACP projects:

  • Central Market York expansion
  • Keystone Kidspace construction
  • New Spring Garden Township emergency services facility
  • Redevelopment of the former Zion Lutheran Church into an event venue

Combined funding totals approximately $6.7 million.

Why it matters: These are the types of medium-sized public projects that frequently generate opportunities for regional general contractors and specialty trades.

Data Centers & Industrial Development

AI Infrastructure Continues to Dominate Long-Term Outlook

Although there were no major new Pennsylvania data center announcements this week, activity remains strong around previously announced developments, including:

  • Carlisle (Pennsylvania Digital I)
  • Lancaster County (CoreWeave)
  • Salem Township (AWS)
  • Archbald
  • Lawrence County

Developers continue advancing permitting, planning, and site development activities.

Why it matters:

  • Heavy civil work
  • Electrical contractors
  • Concrete contractors
  • Structural steel
  • Mechanical systems
  • Utility infrastructure

This remains Pennsylvania’s strongest private commercial construction sector.

Healthcare, Higher Education & Institutional Construction

No major healthcare or university building announcements emerged during the past seven days.

However, many recently funded RACP projects include:

  • Higher education improvements
  • Community facilities
  • Public safety buildings
  • Workforce development facilities

These projects are expected to move toward design and bidding during the second half of 2026.

Contractor & Developer News

No major Pennsylvania contractor mergers, acquisitions, or executive leadership announcements surfaced during the reporting period.

Public Funding & Legislative Developments

RACP Funding Round Officially Updated

The Commonwealth updated its 2025 RACP funding round information and award listings.

The current application window has closed, and additional awards may still be issued before the funding round officially concludes.

What contractors should do:

  • Monitor local project recipients.
  • Engage owners early.
  • Watch for RFQs, design contracts, and bid advertisements.

Bid Opportunities

No significant statewide commercial bid packages were announced during the past week.

Contractors should continue monitoring:

  • Department of General Services procurement opportunities
  • PennDOT lettings
  • Local school district capital projects
  • Municipal facility improvements
  • RACP-funded projects entering procurement

Workforce, Labor & Apprenticeship

The dominant workforce issue remains availability of skilled craft professionals.

Demand continues to be strongest for:

  • Electricians
  • Carpenters
  • Heavy equipment operators
  • Concrete workers
  • HVAC technicians
  • Project managers

Large industrial and data center projects are expected to keep labor demand elevated through 2027.

Safety

No major statewide commercial construction safety incidents or regulatory developments were identified during the past week.

Contractors continue preparing for late-summer heat exposure and maintaining emphasis on fall protection, excavation safety, and workforce wellness.

Market Outlook

Current Trends

Strong

  • Data centers
  • Industrial construction
  • Public capital investment
  • Infrastructure-related work

Moderating

  • Office construction
  • Private commercial financing-sensitive developments

Growing

  • Energy infrastructure
  • Mission-critical facilities
  • Public building modernization

KCA Watch List (Next 30–90 Days)

This information was sent to KCA members. For information please contact the KCA – Jon@KeystoneContractors.com.

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KCA Statement on the 2026-27 Pennsylvania State Budget

HARRISBURG, PA — The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) appreciates the completion of Pennsylvania’s 2026-27 State Budget and is encouraged by its overall fiscal restraint.

From the perspective of Pennsylvania’s construction industry, we are pleased that the Commonwealth maintained its commitment to fiscal stability by preserving the Rainy Day Fund. Maintaining healthy reserves strengthens Pennsylvania’s financial position and helps provide confidence for taxpayers, employers, and the businesses that build and maintain the Commonwealth’s infrastructure.

We are also encouraged that the budget contained relatively few major policy changes. While there are many important issues facing Pennsylvania, significant policy decisions deserve careful analysis rather than being rushed through the budget process.

In particular, KCA believes it was prudent not to advance major initiatives like the legalization of recreational marijuana as part of this year’s budget negotiations. KCA does not support the legalization of marijuana, but we do understand that complex issues like this carry long-term economic, regulatory, and workforce implications and should receive thoughtful public debate, stakeholder feedback and legislative committee reviews before becoming law.

Pennsylvania has experienced the consequences of rushing major policy initiatives before. When casino gaming was legalized during the Rendell administration, the process moved quickly, and several casino licenses were awarded to investors whose financial capacity had not been fully vetted. One project ultimately experienced significant financial problems, leaving construction contractors and suppliers with substantial unpaid work. The financial losses were severe enough that two Pennsylvania construction companies ultimately went out of business.

That experience serves as an important reminder that economic development initiatives must be paired with strong financial due diligence and responsible oversight. As an advocate for construction employers, we cannot stress enough how important it is for careful planning to protect both taxpayers and the businesses that invest their people and resources into these projects.

KCA looks forward to working with the Shapiro Administration and the General Assembly on policies that strengthen Pennsylvania’s construction industry, promote responsible economic growth, and ensure the Commonwealth remains financially sound for years to come.

About the Keystone Contractors Association

The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) is a leading Pennsylvania commercial construction association representing contractors, specialty contractors, suppliers, and industry partners. KCA is dedicated to advancing the construction industry through advocacy, workforce development, education, safety, and member services while helping build a stronger Pennsylvania.

Media Contact:
Jon O’Brien
Executive Director
Keystone Contractors Association
717-884-2801
Jon@KeystoneContractors.com

Keystone Contractors Association Staff Certified to Deliver VitalCog Suicide Prevention Training to Pennsylvania Construction Industry

Program aims to address alarming mental health and suicide rates among construction workers

The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) announced that they are now officially certified to teach VitalCog: Suicide Prevention in the Workplace, a nationally recognized training program specifically designed for the construction industry.

The certification marks another major step in KCA’s ongoing commitment to improving mental health awareness and suicide prevention efforts across Pennsylvania’s construction workforce.

The announcement comes on the heels of the successful 2nd Annual AFSP Construction Hike for Hope, which brought together construction professionals, labor leaders, contractors, and advocates across the state to raise awareness surrounding mental health and suicide prevention in the industry.

“Construction workers face unique pressures both on and off the jobsite, and the statistics surrounding suicide in our industry are impossible to ignore,” said Jon O’Brien, Executive Director, KCA. “By becoming a certified VitalCog instructor, I can now provide companies with practical tools and training that help workers recognize warning signs, start conversations, and connect people with support before a crisis occurs.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the construction industry consistently experiences one of the highest suicide rates among all occupations in the United States. Studies have shown construction workers are at a significantly greater risk due to factors including high stress, chronic pain, substance misuse, financial pressures, long hours, and stigma surrounding mental health discussions.

Additional national research has found:

  • More than 5,000 construction workers die by suicide each year in the United States.
  • The suicide rate among construction and extraction workers is among the highest of any major occupational group.
  • An estimated one in five construction workers struggles with mental health challenges.
  • Many workers report they are more comfortable discussing physical injuries than mental health concerns.

VitalCog training is designed specifically for construction workplaces and focuses on:

  • Recognizing the warning signs of suicide risk
  • How to start supportive conversations
  • Reducing stigma surrounding mental health
  • Connecting workers to available resources and assistance

KCA is now scheduling VitalCog training sessions for construction companies, contractors, associations, apprenticeship programs, and industry organizations throughout Pennsylvania.

The training can be delivered as a stand-alone workshop or incorporated into existing safety meetings, workforce development programs, or company wellness initiatives.

“Safety in construction goes beyond hard hats and harnesses,” O’Brien added. “Protecting the mental health of our workforce is just as important as protecting physical safety on the jobsite.”

For more information or to schedule a VitalCog training session, contact the KCA at Jon@KeystoneContractors.com.

About the Keystone Contractors Association

The Keystone Contractors Association represents Pennsylvania’s construction employers and works to promote workforce development, jobsite safety, industry advocacy, and contractor support 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 – Top Stories for Week Ending December 5, 2025

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania:

Esplanade Breaks Ground in Pittsburgh: Officials this week — including Josh Shapiro — joined developers to break ground on the $740 million Esplanade project in Pittsburgh’s North Side / North Shore. The plan calls for 15 acres of former industrial / brownfield land to be transformed into a mixed-use waterfront development: up to 750 apartments (20% affordable), 126 condos, retail, entertainment venues, green space, and a signature ~200-foot Ferris wheel. First-phase work — including site demolition, infrastructure, and apartment/retail preparation — is underway now, with the Ferris wheel, housing, and retail expected to open around 2028; full completion could run into 2029. The project is being pitched as a “game changer” for revitalizing underused riverfront space, creating thousands of jobs (jobs-creation estimates include both construction and long-term roles), and boosting local economy and livability. READ MORE.

Pennsylvania Comprehensive Housing Bill In Spotlight as Legislators Try to Address Housing Shortage: This week, a bipartisan group of state legislators introduced a new housing bill intended to ease the state’s deep housing shortage — currently estimated at a shortfall of at least 100,000 units statewide. The package aims to encourage new building development, streamline permitting, and incentivize conversion or redevelopment of underutilized properties — partly to overcome delays tied to local government structure and red tape. The effort aligns with the recently drafted Pennsylvania Housing Action Plan (PHAP), which seeks to increase housing affordability and supply across the Commonwealth. READ MORE.

PennDOT & Infrastructure Work Update: The state completed its 2025 construction season on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, investing over $737 million in maintenance, road resurfacing (24.3 miles), and modernization — including demolition of old toll plazas and construction of new Open Road Tolling (ORT) structures across the state. Why it matters: These infrastructure updates have real consequences for traffic, commuting, and long-term mobility across the state. For residents, they affect travel times and may influence where people choose to live or commute — but they also reflect ongoing investment in making Pennsylvania’s transportation network safer, more modern, and more efficient. READ MORE.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!