An industry luncheon hosted by the Concrete Promotion Council (CPC) of the Ozarks late last month drew a large, diverse cross section of people who are charged with facility maintenance. Representatives from cities, counties, school districts, contractors, civil engineers, and architectural firms in and around the Springfield, MO, region attended, reports NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Jon Hansen who spoke to the group on proven, cost effective methods for pavement rehabilitation utilizing concrete overlays.

"The CPC of the Ozarks said this was one of the largest groups to attend a luncheon meeting," Hansen said. "I believe every company represented had put construction spending on hold to the point that the backlog of maintenance and repair that has accumulated has created awareness for investigating the best possible solutions moving forward. One organization attending has over 50 pending parking lots projects and it is very interested in looking at all options."

As the meeting ended, one firm attending requested a similar luncheon seminar in Joplin, MO, which is still rebuilding from an EF-5 tornado that struck in May 2011, Hansen added.