The Gary Job Corps in San Marcos, Texas, was host in December for a day-long seminar, hands-on training and testing for Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification. Attendees included journeymen members of the Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons International Association (OPCMIA) who are instructors and supervisors at 35 Job Corps sites from San Diego to Maine and Seattle to Atlanta.

Job Corps, a division of the U.S. Department of Labor and nationally supported by OPCMIA, is a nationwide network of 122 campuses, that offers an array of career development services to at-risk youth, ages 16 to 24.

Job Corps uses a career development training approach which integrates the teaching of academic, vocational, employability skills and social competencies through a combination of classroom and practical learning experiences to prepare youth for stable, long-term, high-paying jobs.

Green Initiative
Job Corps has recently been granted funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 to be used in the "greening" of Job Corps. Bill Rogers, executive director of the OPCMIA Job Corps training program, said, "Our 35 Job Corp Cement Mason Training facilities will provide as many as 700 entry-level workers whose pervious concrete training will expand and enhance the green initiative in construction. Green building has grown from $2 billion in 2003 to close to $68 billion in 2009."

Defined as concrete with 15-25 percent void space, pervious concrete can play a major role in the reduction of stormwater runoff, thus reducing pollution of waterways and aquifers as well as reducing the heat island effect of urban areas. Use of pervious concrete will expand and be driven by the EPA Stormwater Phase II Regulations, that requires cities of 50M to manage their stormwater runoff. Although it will not guarantee certification, use of pervious concrete will go a long way in being granted LEED points in the certification process.

Contractor Certification
On behalf of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Bob James of the Texas Aggregate & Concrete Association instructed the classroom on the proper procedures to place, compact, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect pervious concrete pavements as well as conducting the certification testing portion of the seminar.

The seminar also included the opportunity for the attendees to participate in the placement of two 10' x 25' sections of pervious concrete.

Helping with the placements and demonstrating some of the equipment to be used in the Job Corps training was Dennis and Dale Lura of Lura Enterprises. Chosen for their cost effectiveness and ease of use Lura Enterprises' Lightening Strike Screeds and Equipment will be used at the 35 Job Corps campuses for training purposes by the attendees at the Gary Job Corps Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification course.