Mitt Romney returns to Utah on Tuesday to raise money for his efforts to support political candidates run for office and maintain his profile on the national stage.

Romney will participate in a $1,000-a-plate dinner at Little America, with proceeds going to his Free and Strong America Political Action Committee. There will be a VIP reception before the dinner for individuals who give $5,000, the maximum allowed under federal law. The events are open only to donors.

"Governor Romney is raising money so that he can campaign for Republican candidates in 2010," said Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom. "It's a critical election year and he intends to do what he can to help the party and its candidates."

Fehrnstrom said Gov. Gary Herbert is scheduled to attend.

Since Romney created the PAC in April 2008, it has raised about $4.6 million, according to figures compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics. Fehrnstrom said the PAC has spent nearly $500,000 supporting GOP candidates around the country.

Fehrnstrom said the PAC also enables Romney to travel to political activities on behalf of candidates, maintain some staffers, and help candidates by sending direct mail pieces and doing get-out-the-vote work.

Last weekend, Romney spoke at the Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C., where he finished second to former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the social conservative group's straw poll of contenders for the 2012 presidential campaign.

The former head of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Romney owned Utah during his presidential bid, winning 90 percent of the Republican primary vote in the state. He also raised an unprecedented $5.5 million from Utahns in his campaign account alone, more if contributions to his political action committees are added in.

He has declined to say if he will run for president again in 2012, insisting he is focused on helping GOP candidates. He campaigned for Utah Sen. Bob Bennett at an event in Salt Lake City earlier this year.