In the question of what came first, the chicken or the egg, the same can be said for NRMCA Design Assistance Program (DAP) projects, reports Jon Hansen, vice president of national resources. Do we only do a DAP in a region where there are contractors available to bid and perform the work or do we "lay the egg" out there in the form of a DAP to show there is potential for concrete if we get contractors on board? The popularity of a concrete option for parking lot paving is gaining strong momentum in some regions of the U.S., Hansen said. Owners want to explore the correct design and cost of a concrete option. Producers are fully engaged in the process. These people are finding the help they need in the form of DAP.

"The missing part in the process is having an informed contractor base that knows and understands the work NRMCA is doing to expand the parking lot market," Hansen added. "NRMCA’s Selling Parking Lots Boot Camp is one way of putting producers and contractors together to pursue local projects, but in some regions we are not keeping up with the demand of the DAP’s completed and then following up with contractor quotes."

Partnerships with other contractor associations are one way all can work together with more contractors, notes Hansen. Working with equipment manufacturers are another avenue to contractors. It is a mission we all need to embrace for us to expand our parking lot market.