St. Cloud State University hosted a stop on the Minnesota House of Representatives Capital Investment Committee bonding tour on Sept. 29.
The three-day tour included stops in the Twin Cities and Northwest, Central and West Central Minnesota, where lawmakers traveled through over a dozen counties to review proposed infrastructure projects.
“These tours are an important way for lawmakers to see the projects and hear directly from local leaders,” said Co-Chair Mary Franson. “Seeing these sites in person helps us understand the needs and make informed decisions about how to invest taxpayer dollars responsibly.”
The Husky Den in Herb Brooks National Hockey Center was the site for presentations on St. Cloud Area projects in Stearns and Benton County.
SCSU Interim President Larry Dietz opened up with introductions, followed by St. Cloud Technical & Community College President Lori Kloos giving an update on Higher Education Asset Preservation and Replacement (HEAPR) funds they were recently awarded by the state to replace their Heartland Building roof.
SCSU was awarded nearly $13 million of HEAPR dollars for upgrades at the Herb Brooks National Hockey center in the latest legislative session. Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner explained the significance of these behind-the-scenes changes, stating how they are crucial for the continued success of hockey programs on campus and in the community.
Facilities Planning and Construction Director Kelly Bartlow concluded the SCSU presentation with HEAPR requests for the next legislative session, including replacing the Stewart Hall roof to avoid leaking and improvements to the aging SCSU tunnel system that holds steam and utility lines.
She also explained the importance of requesting demolition funding to take down unused buildings on campus.
“This would be a strategic use of resources that allows us to reinvest funds into our other learning environments and programs that matter to our community and the state,” Bartlow said.
Minnesota State will be requesting $464 million from the legislature for the next biennium, including $200 million in HEAPR funds and $25 million for systemwide demolition for the 26 colleges and seven universities.
Last week’s tour is the first in a series of statewide visits that will take lawmakers to communities across Minnesota in advance of the 2026 legislative session, which begins Feb. 17.
