CMU Check-Off Assessments Begin April 1

Words: Isa Stein

After a decade plus worth of work by the industry to secure a check-off program for concrete block, it will officially start collecting assessments this Saturday, April 1. We are excited to see the start of this program, which will bring significant national and regional investments for the concrete block industry. It is estimated that the program will bring in $10 million per year.

Funds will be used for a variety of activities. The goal of the program is to help restore market share for the concrete block community. You will likely see some type of reference to the CMU Check-Off Program from your block suppliers (if you have not already). Ultimately, know that the pennies that go into this program will ultimately help our industry in the long run through the funding of many efforts.

The Program is governed by a Board of Directors who will ultimately be responsible for the stewardship of the funds. Look for more details on program support in early 2024.

Jeff Buczkiewicz, President of Mason Contractors Association of America

The Importance of Staying Engaged
September 2026

There’s an old adage in Washington, D.C.: “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” After moving to Washington, D.C., in January of 2001 for what I thought would be a fun two years working for a Member of Congress while I figured out what I really want

Stephen Borg
Government Affairs
Read More
Mentmore Towers, Fort Point, and More
September 2026

The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, UK, stands as a sweeping estate that represents the absolute peak of English masonry. Conceived with breathtaking scale and precision, the monumental complex is defined by

Justin Stengel
Masonry in the Media
Read More
The Alhambra
September 2026

High above Granada, Spain, the Alhambra offers masonry professionals something more than an architectural landmark. It is a working lesson in how relatively simple building materials, placed by skilled craftsmen and maintained over generations, can create

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More
The Wall
September 2026

There is a story around Huntley Brothers that some of our guys simply call “The Wall.” I’ve told it enough times over the years that when I start telling it to one of our younger guys, I can see a few of the older ones rolling their eyes. They’ve heard i

Kent Huntley
Chairman’s Message
Read More