March 1, 2018 – Houston, we got products. AGG1 – being held in Houston, March 6-8 – is the aggregates industry’s leading exposition and education resource. AGG1 features in-depth industry-focused educational programming and comprehensive exhibits that showcase the latest technologies and innovations in aggregates-related equipment, products and services. The show is co-located with the NSSGA Annual Convention and World of Asphalt Show…
Read MoreCategory: Mark's Blog
I Like It When They Listen To Me
Feb. 15, 2018 – It looks like President Trump read my February issue editorial. He reportedly tried to persuade his fellow Republicans to raise the gas tax, according to a story in the Washington Post. In a closed-door meeting on infrastructure with members of both parties, Trump pitched the idea of a 25-cent increase in the gas tax, which hasn’t been raised since 1993. There’s a growing…
Read MoreWood Makes a Gravelly Point
Feb. 6, 2018 – A Congressional representative from Georgia, Jody Hice, wants to rename Gravelly Point Park in Arlington County, Va., and call it Nancy Reagan Memorial Park. An article in the Washington Post has a few things to say about that, and quotes someone we know well, Bailey Wood: “Gravel is truly one of the most fundamental building blocks in America,” said Bailey Wood,…
Read MoreHaving a Blast
Jan. 29, 2018 – Hello from San Antonio where I am attending the ISEE blasting conference. Lots of optimism here and manufacturers pleased with both current business conditions and booth traffic. Spoke with several of the seismic monitoring companies who had much to say about some plant expansions coming on line in the future and ongoing community outreach being practiced…
Read MoreTrump Infrastructure Plan Outline Leaked
January 24, 2018 – Details of President Trump’s plan to revive America’s aging infrastructure system have been leaked to news site Axios. According to the leaked outline, the federal government is only putting up a fraction of the funds that will be used to build and fix projects including highways, bridges and airports. Half of the appropriations will go toward an “infrastructure…
Read MoreGiving You Nothing But The Best
Jan. 17, 2018 – It is no secret that Rock Products brings you the very best editorial content. But it is always nice to have that reinforced by the outside world. Congratulations to our Community columnist Thomas Roach, who had one of his columns referenced and discussed in the 8th Edition of the book, “Public Relations Cases” by Jerry A. Hendrix and Darrell…
Read MoreLaHood Calls for Infrastructure Plan
Jan. 3, 2018 – Ray LaHood, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and the current co-chair of the bipartisan advocacy group Building America’s Future, wrote a column for Newsweek calling for support for a common-sense infrastructure plan. “In order to address the dire condition of our infrastructure and start creating jobs, we need a bipartisan and strategic plan that provides long-term funding,” he wrote. “Revitalizing…
Read MoreChaney Buys Concrete Plant
Dec, 29, 2017 – Chaney Enterprises has purchased a ready-mix concrete plant in Bealeton, Va. The plant, acquired from Lehigh Hanson, will provide increased production capabilities and another easily accessible location to a growing number of customers in Virginia. It brings the number of Chaney concrete plants to 18, according to the company. Chaney also operates aggregates plants, distribution terminals, and…
Read MoreInfrastructure Plan on the Horizon?
Dec. 12, 2017 – According to The Hill, President Trump huddled with key transportation leaders at the White House ahead of the administration’s release of its long-awaited infrastructure proposal next month. Trump met with Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), who are both expected to be key players in the president’s rebuilding initiative. Also joining the…
Read MoreTax Bill Leaves Out Infrastructure
Dec. 4, 2017 – The Senate passed its tax overhaul with no provision to route revenues toward a promised $1 trillion infrastructure plan or to fix the Highway Trust Fund’s insolvency crisis. White House officials have reportedly told lawmakers that the Highway Trust Fund would be addressed later on in an infrastructure bill, but the timeline for such a bill is…
Read More