Tag: scholarships

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – The Top Stories for the Week Ending July 10, 2026

Here are the top Pennsylvania construction stories this week:

Pennsylvania Demographics Continue to Affect Hiring: The Pennsylvania Chamber continues warning that workforce availability—not unemployment—is becoming the state’s biggest economic challenge. Some notable figures: For every 100 jobs open, only about 77 qualified Pennsylvanians are available; and, an aging workforce and slower population growth are reducing the available labor pool, particularly in the skilled trades. READ MORE.

Northeast Pennsylvania Reports Ongoing Workforce Challenges: A recent regional economic report found construction activity remains relatively strong in Northeast Pennsylvania, but contractors continue identifying workforce shortages as one of the industry’s primary constraints on growth. READ MORE.

KCA Surpasses $100,000 in Scholarships: The Keystone Contractors Association (KCA) proudly announced that it has awarded more than $100,000 in college scholarships since launching its scholarship program in 2022, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to developing Pennsylvania’s next generation of construction industry leaders. Designed with a singular mission, the KCA Scholarship Program is unlike any other in the Commonwealth. KCA proudly refers to it as “Pennsylvania’s Scholarship” because every dollar invested stays in Pennsylvania. READ MORE (CPBJ is password protected. If you cannot view article, click to read KCA release).

PHOTO CAPTION: KCA Education Committee Chairman Jim Darr with the 2026 KCA Scholarship winners: Kevin Brown, Lindsay Baer and Keely Nunn.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

Pennsylvania Construction Recap – Top Stories for the Week Ending January 16, 2026

Stay Safe, Stay & Keep Building Pennsylvania!

This week’s top stories in Pennsylvania

Massive Southern Berks Industrial Park Breaks Ground: One of the biggest industrial projects in the state has officially started construction in Berks County. The 5.5 million-square-foot Southern Berks Industrial Park will sit on a former Bethlehem Steel site and include multiple Class A industrial buildings. Phase 1 alone is expected to create about 450 jobs by late 2026, with the full build-out projected to generate roughly 2,750 jobs and ~$2 billion in economic activity. READ MORE.

State Grant Programs for Construction & Transportation Now Open: Pennsylvania’s Department of Transportation Multimodal Transportation Funding (MTF) and other state grant programs are now open for applications, offering public infrastructure and commercial project funding opportunities that can support future construction and mobility-related developments. READ MORE.

Time to Nominate Construction’s Safest Construction Companies, Emerging Leaders & Community Difference-Makers: The KCA awards program is an excellent way to recognize the talented and community-first professionals on your team. Winners and Finalists are honored at the annual Construction Celebration held in June, which is the construction industry’s biggest awards event in Harrisburg. We hope you enjoyed last years’ event:  2025 Construction Celebration Highlight Video.

  • KCA Safety Awards: To be considered for the KCA Safety Awards please submit your OSHA 300A log from 2025 by March 1, 2026. Please respond to this email with your form or email the KCA.
  •  KCA Top Young Leader: This award shines the spotlight on the up and coming leaders from the construction industry. The deadline to nominate a professional is March 1, 2026. For more information on the award, list of past winners and to locate the Nomination Form visit: KCA Top Young Leader.
  • The Thomas George Memorial Community Service Award: Created to honor the field personnel who make a difference on the jobsite and in the community, the deadline to nominate a professional for this award is March 1, 2026. Nomination Form. 
  • The KCA Scholarship Program: Entering its 5th year, the KCA Scholarship Program has awarded $80,000 in scholarships to AEC students. For more information please visit KCA Scholarship Program.

Stay Safe, Stay Informed & Keep Building Pennsylvania!