Happy Labor Day Weekend!
BONDING TOUR FOLLOW-UP
On Wednesday, I continued to participate in the Capital Investment tour of southwestern Minnesota. We started the day at Minnesota State University - Mankato where we heard the proposal for the Clinical Sciences Phase 2 Design & Renovation.
We also toured the $25.818 million Clinical Sciences Building authorized (I voted for it) in 2014 and talked to students using the new state of the art facility.
WINDOM WASTEWATER FACILITY
We then got on the bus and road to Windom to tour their Wastewater Treatment Plant and hear their request for a $6.8 million for an upgrade to meet MPCA discharge standards. There are going to be many such requests.
MINNESOTA WEST
We next went to Jackson to the Minnesota West Community & Technical College (www.mnwest.edu) where we participated in a Ribbon Cutting for the new Powerline Technician training building.
Over 40 young students are participating. We walked in to the new building and they were up on the training poles (see photo). When these students graduate they will have good paying technical jobs starting between $50-70K per year. Everywhere we went instructors and industry stressed the demand and need for skilled workers in the trades as baby boomers retire. I believe these technical college improvements are well worth the investment.
RIVERLAND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
We traveled to Albert Lea to tour Riverland College (request $10.122 million) and again heard of the demand for diesel engine, engine repair, truck driving and automotive workers. These older campuses need upgrading to provide timely training for a new workforce.
The City of Albert Lea is also looking for $4 million to complete the Blazing Star Landing site (near the old Wilsons/Farmland Foods location) between Albert Lea Lake and Fountain Lake. They are also requesting $1.897 million for a connecting bridge for the Blazing Star trail.
ROBERT STREET
On the bus ride back to St. Paul we toured Robert Street. I guided the bus along Robert Street and described the City of West St. Paul's cost for this state Highway. I continue to push for reimbursement for costs for this State Highway construction project. Here is a photo from the Robert Street tour.
Next week we will be touring southeastern Minnesota and will be looking at projects in South St. Paul on Wednesday afternoon.