MARATHON, Wis. (December 16, 2002) – As of January 1, 2003, County Concrete Corporation and Wisconsin Brick and Block Corporation will operate as one joint entity called COUNTY MATERIALS CORPORATION.

Over the last several years, County Concrete has been adding locations across the state, including the acquisition of Wisconsin Brick and Block in 2001. "Continued growth and product line diversification made it necessary and timely to merge the two companies," says Tim Sonnentag, General Manager of County Materials Corporation. "We believe this new merger will better position our company in the construction industry and reflect our strength and continued commitment to our customers."

According to Sonnentag, increased accessibility to materials and services makes the company a more valuable business partner to their customers.

Combined, the companies have provided over 155 years of customer service and product innovation to the industry. County Materials Corporation will operate 19 locations in Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Throughout this network, County Materials Corporation manufactures and supplies a broad range of commercial and residential construction products including standard and decorative concrete block, brick, landscaping products, ready-mix, precast products - such as hollowcore roof and floor systems, prestress bridge beams and other related heavy construction products.

County Materials Corporation currently plans to open a third location in the Milwaukee area just in time for the 2003 spring building season. An office and HomeScape Studio showroom will be located in Waukesha at W229 N2450 Homewood Court, one mile north of I-94, on 164. Last spring the company added a sales office, showroom and storage yard at its Burlington manufacturing facility.

County Concrete Corporation has been a trusted source in the construction industry since 1946 when it began manufacturing concrete block in Marathon, Wis., the site of todayâs corporate headquarters. Throughout its rich history, it has consistently achieved growth by serving new markets and becoming the materials resource for industry professionals.

Established in Madison nearly 100 years ago, Wisconsin Brick & Block has been southern Wisconsin's brick and concrete products resource.

County Materials Corporation will own and operate facilities and HomeScape Studios in Appleton, Burlington, Eau Claire, Green Bay, La Crosse, Madison, Marathon, Merrill, Oak Creek, Rice Lake, Roberts, Stevens Point, Waukesha, Webster, Weston, Wisconsin Rapids and in Maple Grove, Minn. Their award-winning Prestress, Precast & Pipe Division is located in Roberts, Wisc.

For more information about the company and its superior building products, visit http://www.countymaterial.com, or call the corporate office at 1-800-289-2569.