The Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Patrons Foundation Board at Texas State University has unanimously approved a landmark $1 million endowment to support the CIM program.
This milestone investment marks the next chapter in a partnership that has already provided more than $2.2 million in program support since the program’s launch in 2009.
The CIM program in the Department of Engineering Technology at TXST, one of only five in the nation, equips students with both technical expertise in concrete science and the business acumen needed for leadership in the concrete and construction industries. Through classroom learning, applied research and hands-on industry experience, the program prepares graduates to meet one of Texas’s most pressing workforce needs.
Texas consumes nearly 15% of all ready-mix concrete produced in the United States, more than Florida and California combined. As retirements accelerate across the industry, the demand for new talent will only continue to rise. TXST’s CIM program is now the largest in the country with more than 200 students enrolled, and plans are under way to more than double that number to 500 students in the coming years.
The newly established endowment will provide a sustainable source of funding to support student scholarships, program growth and resources that enhance retention and career readiness. By investing in this endowment, the Patrons Foundation has ensured the CIM program can make strategic decisions to grow its impact and maintain its position as a national leader.