Concrete promotion in Tennessee is more than just one program. Each of the programs we have featured this year also help build the market for concrete in our state and the proof of our efforts is in the annual production numbers for Tennessee. Tennessee has exceeded our pre-Great Recession yardage each of the last three years (since 2020) and we are on track to set a fourth record year of production in 2023. Final numbers are not yet in for 2023 but we were up 7% over the record production pace of 2022 at the mid-point of 2023, and our concrete economy continues to be strong across the state. Tennessee’s share of national concrete production has increased over the last three years and in 2022 was the highest ever. While national concrete production continues to be below the records set in 2005 and 2006 (about 458 million Cubic Yards) by about 12%, concrete production in Tennessee surpasses our pre-Great Recession levels by about 10%. 

Our Be Pro Be Proud TN efforts, along with our support of the Skate 4 Concrete program, have a primary focus on workforce development since that is by far the most pressing concern of our members in Tennessee. Skate 4 Concrete emphasizes career opportunities in the concrete industry and conveys a strong, positive message about the superiority of concrete as the world’s best building material to the group that will be making concrete decisions in the next decade and beyond. 

All of TCA’s efforts around education and certification also strongly contribute to increasing market demand for concrete. When we are educating stakeholders about the many advantages of concrete as the premier building material, we are supporting market growth for ready mixed concrete. 

Also important is TCA’s continuing commitment to research and development. TCA’s history of both supporting and conducting research is unique to a very few state concrete associations, and our commitment to this continued in 2023. TCA funded a research project at Tennessee Technological University, and participated in a group applying for a large research grant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory related to alternative cementitious materials (Limestone/Activated Clay/Calcium Sulfate Blends for Low Carbon Concrete (LACCS Concrete)). In late 2023, TCA was also awarded a research grant from the Concrete Advancement Foundation on measuring carbonation of in-place concrete for several different mix designs and applications. This research will commence in 2024.