ASP.net 3.5 Generate HTML using VB.net Function

I'm trying to generate a block of HTML code using a VB.net function.  I created a function in a class.  THe function generates a string that contains html and a strValue that I would like displayed. 
   public shared function getMyHTML(strValue)  return string
     str1 = "<table><tr><td><%=strValue%></td></tr></table>"
   end function
 I added a call to this function in the page_Load event to generate a string on the page.  In the aspx page, I have the following code:
   <% =stValue %>
The string value passed to the function appears on the page, but none of the html or formatting that is passed.  When I view the page using View source, all the HTML is there exactly as it should be.  I read this may have something to do with viewstate.  But don't know ...