We are thrilled to be joining the Tennessee Concrete Association for this year’s summer convention. After so many months of uncertainty, joining our friends for this annual event will be something to look forward to. The event will be held at the Sandestin Beach Hilton July 29-Aug. 1. The room…

The Alabama Legislature met two days last week and now has only three days left in the session. The week was productive with passage of the Education Trust Fund (ETF) Budget in the House and passage of the General Fund Budget in the Senate. The ETF was the largest budget…

Data recently released by the United States Geological Service shows 103,522 tons of cement were shipped to the state during the month of January 2021. Cement shipments grew by 11.7% over the same period in 2020. The month marks the largest January total in the previous 8 years. Looking to…

Each year, ACIA presents the Chairman’s Award to an outstanding leader in the concrete industry. This year’s recipient is a household name when it comes to Auburn University baseball. Joe Beckwith, son of longtime Auburn University director of ticket sales Bill Beckwith and his wife, Marjorie, was born in 1955…

Kurt Milliman, our 2021-2022 Chairman of the Board, serves as the regional manager for Lehigh Hanson/Sherman Industries utilizing his extensive background in construction. He has worked with some form of building materials since he was 15 and has lived and worked in various concrete markets in the Southeast and Texas….

The Environmental Excellence Award is presented annually to a ready mix producer plant that has best demonstrated environmental excellence and innovative management. This year we are pleased to present Sherman Industries’ Tarrant, Alabama ready mix plant with this coveted award. The Tarrant location is a new ready-mix plant that became…

Drive Lifetime Achievement Award In 1981, a 31-year-old Eddie Ray was working on a farm in rural northeast Alabama. He had little knowledge of the concrete business and never once thought about driving a concrete truck. In fact, he had never driven a vehicle larger than afarm truck. However, that…

ACIF ScholarshipsFor the past 28 years, the Alabama Concrete Industries Foundation has awarded scholarships to students enrolled in building science, engineering or architecture at our state’s universities. Since 1993, we have awarded 54 scholarships totaling over $250,000. We currently award 2 $8,000 scholarships per year. The foundation’s first scholarship recipient,…

The Alabama Legislature has now met 21 of the constitutionally allowed 30 days. The Legislature must still pass the Education Trust Fund Budget and the General Fund Budget. Both budgets have passed one house and await action in the other Chamber. Both are in surprisingly great shape and are unlikely…

After more than a year of mask wearing, elbow bumping, social distancing and stay-at-home orders, the Alabama Concrete Industries Association was thrilled to once again host its Annual Business Meeting held at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club in Montgomery. While still practicing Covid-19 safety protocols, ACIA welcomed 90 members and…

Historically, November, December and January are the slowest three months for the concrete industry in the state. However, December 2020 threw a curve ball to conventional thinking according to data recently released by the United States Geological Service. The USGS estimated 109,035 tons of cement were shipped to the state…

Lottery, gaming bills revived On Wednesday, the Senate Tourism Committee pumped new life into the gambling debate less than a week after a constitutional amendment to create a lottery and provide up to ten casino gaming locations failed on the floor of the Senate by a vote of 19 ayes…

Gaming legislation fails This week saw the defeat of Senator Del Marsh’s effort to pass comprehensive gambling legislation. Just a few weeks ago, I would have bet the legislation would have passed. However, when the roll was called Tuesday, the legislation failed to reach the required 21 votes for a…

The Alabama Legislature met for three days again last week and have now used 13 of the 30 possible legislative days allowed during the session. Historically, the legislature meets two days a week with one day of committee meetings.   Governor Ivey Extends Mask Mandate   While the Governor extended…

The Alabama legislature met for three days last week after taking off the previous week. The legislature has now met for 9 of the possible 30 days. So far things have run smoothly, and the COVID protocols have allowed the legislature to operate without any major problems. Guests are still…