Get a $5K Forgivable Home Repair Loan

Starting Monday, qualifying homeowners can apply for forgivable loans to make improvements to their homes.

Minnetonka’s Small Projects Housing Rehabilitation Loan Program offers homeowners up to $5,000 through a zero percent, no interest, no payment, deferred loan. Loans will be completely forgiven for borrowers who continue to live in their homes for 10 years after receiving a loan.

To be eligible for a loan, income must not exceed the following for each household size:

• 1 person: $45,100
• 2 people: $51,500
• 3 people: $58,000
• 4 people: $64,400
• 5 people: $69,600
• 6 people: $74,750
• 7 people: $79,900
• 8 people: $85,050

Pre-application opens at 8 a.m. Monday. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis until Sept. 20. They’re available on the program guidelines page, at Minnetonka City Hall, or by calling (952) 939-8285. A limited number of loans are available.

Minnetonka residents who don’t meet the guidelines for this program can take advantage of several other home repair loan programs. More information is available by contacting Elise Durbin at (952) 939-8285 or edurbin@eminnetonka.com.

Other news you should know about this week:

• Thursday is a big day in sports: High school sports fans have no shortage of games to choose from Thursday. For the Skippers, the evening is filled with a trio of varsity home games. The girls’ soccer team kicks off the action at 3 p.m. when it takes on Benilde-St. Margaret’s at Einer Anderson Field. At 5 p.m., girls’ swimming and diving will challenge Edina at the Minnetonka Middle School East Aquatic Center. And the football team will round out the action with a 7 p.m. game against Bloomington Jefferson at Einer Anderson Field. Royals’ action is spread further afield but offers even more options. Boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams will travel to the Little Falls Golf Course for an invitational meet that begins at 3:50 p.m. The girls’ tennis team will take on Edina at 4 p.m. at the Edina Community Center. Girls’ soccer will confront Edina at home at 5 p.m. The girls’ swimming and diving team will challenge Wayzata at 5 p.m. at the Plymouth Life Time Fitness. And both the volleyball team and boys’ soccer team will face Edina at home at 7 p.m.
• Learn how to grow fruit in your backyard: Rebecca Koetter managed demonstration plots covering different methods of fruit production for the home gardener at the Urban Forestry and Horticulture Research Institute at the University of Minnesota. From 6:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. Thursday, she’ll speak at Minnetonka City Hall during a workshop on backyard fruit growing. The first hour will cover species selection and fruit growing basic. The second will cover basic care and ways to manage and identify the most common types of insects and diseases. Learn more here.