State Sen. Dan Sparks (DFL-Austin) will host the Senate Capital Investment Committee for a visit to Austin and Albert Lea later this week. A bipartisan delegation of senators and staff will be holding meetings in Mower and Freeborn counties and touring potential bonding projects. Led by State Senator Keith Langseth (DFL-Glyndon), the chair of the committee, the group will get a firsthand look at a number of projects seeking state funding in the 2006 legislative session.

“It’s a great honor for me and for our communities to have this committee come visit,” Sparks said.

“In the wake of the floods, and with the growing importance of higher education in our region, we clearly have needs that can be met by the bonding process.

&8220;I’m thankful that Sen. Langseth and other members of the committee are coming here to take a closer look at our bonding proposals.”

On Wednesday, the committee will meet at Riverland Community and Technical College in Austin at 5:30 p.m.

After an overnight in Austin, the committee will hold Thursday meetings regarding flood mitigation efforts in Austin (8 a.m.) and Albert Lea (9:30 a.m.).

Among the other communities and sites included on the Nov. 1-3 tour will be Hastings, Red Wing, Wabasha, Winona, Rochester, Ellendale and Faribault.

“This is the fifth and final tour we are taking in Greater Minnesota,” said Langseth.

The committee has already held meetings at several sites in southwestern, central, northeast and northwest Minnesota.

“It’s helpful for senators and our staff to meet on-site, talk with people and view firsthand the places where investing state dollars may be a good idea, he said.

&8220;The information we gather will be very important once the legislative session starts and tough decisions need to be made about which projects will be funded.”

For more information on the tour or individual site visits, contact Sparks directly at 507-438-2898 or at his Capitol office, 651-296-9248.