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Source: Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.self storageOct. 09--PRESTON -- Officials with the financially struggling National Trout Center told state lawmakers Tuesday that $4.5 million in state money to build a permanent facility could boost its efforts to lure tourists and shore up its shallow pool of donor dollars.The stop in Preston was part of six-city tour that included Red Wing, Winona, Chatfield and Rochester as members of the House Capital Investment Committee checked out some of the projects competing for state bonding dollars. They were scheduled for visits in Austin and Albert Lea today.When lawmakers stepped off their bus in Preston, they were treated to fish-shaped cookies and apple cider. They also strolled to a nearby trout stream to check out a potential site for the center.National Trout Center Chairman George Spangler emphasized the project is geared toward capitalizing on the region's stellar trout fishing."We have a $1.1 billion trout fishing industry in this area; that's 10 percent of the total tourism economy in Minnesota, and we know we can bring people here," he said. "It's an economic engine -- no doubt about it."The center's request comes at a time when the organization has been struggling with budget shortfalls and had to layoff its lone full-time employee. Spangler said if the center were to move ahead, it would help boost its ability to attract donors.So far, more than $3 billion in requests have been made -- more than three times the amount lawmakers are expected to award next legislative session. Eager to make an impression, project backers pulled out all the stops to win over the legislators.Mayo Civic CenterThe biggest project being considered during the tour was Rochester's request for $37 million to expand Mayo Civic Center. This marks the seventh time the city has sought funding to complete a 188,000-square-foot addition to the aging facility.Rochester Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Brad Jones told lawmakers 90 percent of the project is centered on adding high-tech convention space to the facility with the goal of luring lucrative national and international medical conferences to the city. If the city were able to get the top 50 medical organizations to hold their conferences in the city, Jones estimates it would add up to $170 million in direct spending.Preston Republican Greg Davids, who serves on the House Capital Investment Committee, said it's those types of numbers that help to make the case the civic center project should move ahead."If you dig into the civic center, they have a compelling case," Davids said.In Chatfield, lawmakers were ushered into Potter Auditorium in the Chatfield Center for the Arts for a brief one-man theatrical sketch. They also listened to a live musical performance and then watched a short video of people making the case for the project, including singer Lorie Line. The city is seeking $7.9 million for the project.House Capital Investment Committee迷利倉Chairwoman Alice Hausman was quick to praise the project, noting the rough treatment the city has endured in the past at the Capitol when some lawmakers mocked a proposal to expand the Chatfield Brass Band Lending Library and then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed the project."What we put this town through, I will never forget. We denigrated and made fun of that resource and people here. It was horrible," she said.She called on her colleagues not to attack this project or try to hold it up as some example of waste. Instead, she said it's an example of a community working together to build on its assets.Zip rail, higher educationOlmsted County officials also made their case for $15 million for Zip Rail, a proposed high-speed rail from Rochester to the Twin Cities. Those dollars would be used to help leverage up to $60 million in federal dollars to complete an Environmental Impact Statement for the project, said Olmsted County Commissioner Ken Brown. That's the final step before construction could begin on the line. Assertions by project backers that it appears the rail line will be able to operate without any government subsidies met with some skepticism from lawmakers. Brown said a study detailing the business case for the line is expected to be done by the end of the first quarter.Throughout the day, lawmakers also heard proposals for much more mundane things, such as a Kasson-Mantorville wastewater treatment facility, a fire hall in Red Wing and repairs to Rochester Community and Technical College buildings.The college is seeking $1.1 million to demolish its Plaza and Memorial Hall buildings and another $1 million to design a new 30,000-square-foot facility. The buildings, built in 1970, were poorly designed for the needs of today's students with a lecture hall that is far too large and classrooms that are too small. Water damage has led to recurrent mold problems, and 84 individual heating and cooling units installed in faculty offices must be run at all times, costing the college $100,000 every year, said interim RCTC President Gail O'Kane.History professor Chad Israelson called the buildings "decrepit and outdated" and said he personally witnessed plaster fall from the ceiling of a classroom and land on a student. He added that with Mayo Clinic's planned 20-year expansion, it is even more important that the college be prepared to handle the additional education need.After listening to all of the presentations, Hausman said providing funding for higher education facilities will be among the top priorities for the Legislature next year when it crafts the bill. She said lawmakers also will be focused on one key question when deciding which projects make the cut."Always we ask what is the state's interest and is it an investment in infrastructure that provides economic advantage," Hausman said.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Post-Bulletin Visit the Post-Bulletin at .postbulletin.com Distributed by MCT Information Services自存倉