Our economy is still struggling. We have far too many unemployed Minnesotans and those with jobs are not seeing their situations improve. To speed up our recovery, we must take both a short-term and long-term approach to economic growth.

Bonding projects offer us that opportunity. Bonding helps small businesses and communities grow by building the long-term infrastructure needed to help businesses be successful in the future. Construction jobs created by these infrastructure projects help us in the short-term as well.

Members of the House Capital Investment Committee recently took a tour of several projects seeking bonding money, including stops at Riverland Community College and Fountain Lake. Both projects hold economic promise for Albert Lea. The proposed project for Riverland Community College would complete significant and delayed renovations, improving classrooms spaces and the educational experience for students of the college.

Our public colleges and universities produce the well-educated workforce sought by businesses that locate in our state and have been forced to absorb devastating cuts in state aid. We need to do all we can to support our public colleges and universities; support and investment now will become economic success later.

The other bonding request near Albert Lea is for the dredging of Fountain Lake. Dredging is a process of removing sediment accumulation. Removing this sediment would increase people’s desire to use the lake. Drawing more people to the lake increases tourism spending in Albert Lea, grows the area’s economy over time and helps businesses be successful.

High-value projects like these will build and improve local infrastructure that will enhance our standard of living and provide long-term economic benefits for Minnesotans. These are investments in the future of our state and ones well-worth making.

 

Alice Hausman

state representative

District 66B

St. Paul