LAS VEGAS — With the nation focused on stimulating the economy through infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, Portland Cement Association’s (PCA) Ronnie Pruitt, vice chair of the Paving Committee, today unveiled a PCA paving promotion initiative that benefits the industry, its customers and ultimately the motoring public.

Introduced at the 2009 World of Concrete, the program will ensure concrete and cement-based paving products realize their full market share potential, and that taxpayers are better served with a range of paving solutions.

High asphalt cost and low availability, environmental concerns, the economic downturn and growing demands on our infrastructure are creating a new reality for paving materials, said Pruitt. These factors illustrate the need for an integrated approach in marketing the use of concrete paving for our transportation systems.

“Because our new plan approaches promotion on an audience-by-audience basis rather than by product, we can offer public works and DOT officials a solution to their every paving need,” said PCA Staff Vice President for Market Development Mark Justman. “At a time when it is necessary to stretch dollars like never before, integrating our concrete promotion programs will help showcase how concrete’s low maintenance needs and durability make it the most cost-effective pavement available for every type of paving project.”

In the past, concrete paving promotion efforts have been segmented among various regional and national groups. The new program builds upon those efforts and relationships and creates a more cohesive, inclusive approach.  As the umbrella organization for this effort, PCA has expanded its focus from roller-compacted concrete pavement and soil-cement applications such as full-depth reclamation to all concrete pavement options including conventional concrete pavements and pervious concrete. This expansion will enable PCA to provide public works officials with a “one-stop-shop” for cement-based paving solutions and offer the product, or in some cases products, that best matches the unique needs of the community or state while increasing the use of concrete products throughout the nation.

Finally, the promotion plan benefits the taxpayers.  Concrete’s low maintenance needs and durability make it the most cost-effective pavement available, saving money for important public services like schools and police at a time when municipal budgets are tight and getting tighter.

“In fact, if concrete were used instead of asphalt for all new roads built between now and 2015, state governments could save over $100 billion during the life of the roads,” Justman continued. “Concrete is the premiere paving material for our growing demands.”

About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs. More information on PCA programs is available at www.cement.org.

###