The Luverne Economic Development Authority approved three business loans at their Monday meeting at the Luverne City Offices.
The loans, at zero percent interest, totaled $15,000.
Leroy Austin, owner of Vinnie’s Dang Fine Dine on South Highway 75, received a $5,000 commercial demolition grant to remove the white building north of the existing restaurant at 704 S. Kniss Ave.
EDA director Holly Sammons presented Austin’s request at the meeting. Austin indicated the wooden storage building is dilapidated and is deteriorating. Cost of repairs outweighs the value of the building.
“The demo gives him a clean slate for any future ideas,” she said.
No immediate plans were known at the meeting.
Two separate Rural Business Assistance loans were granted to a related business.
Rachael Dekker, a nurse anesthetist, was approved for a $5,000 five-year business loan to open a medical spa called Novo Aesthetics PLLC at 203 E. Main St. in Luverne.
Dekker has undergone training and received the necessary licensing for medical cosmetic injections and fillers. Services will include botulinum toxin injections, injectable dermal fillers, microdermabrasion with platelet rich plasma and chemical peels.
The business will also retail medical grade skin care products. Dekker expects to open her business this spring.
The business loan will be used to remodel space in the Cragoe Realty building as well as purchase additional medical equipment and inventory.
Relatedly, V & D Properties LLC, owned by Stephen Dekker and Brant Van Dyke, will purchase the Cragoe Realty building with the closing scheduled for next month.
Dekker and Van Dyke applied for a $5,000 five-year Rural Business assistance loan to make interior updates to make the building on Main Street Luverne viable for commercial tenants.
Novo Aesthetics is one tenant scheduled to open in the building. Other commercial areas will be available for rent in the two-story building in the future.