Commercial Rehabilitation Loan Program

Eligibility Criteria

1. Properties must be located within Hutchinson’s historic downtown district. The boundaries of which are the Crow River on the North, Fourth Avenue on the South, properties with frontage on the west side of Franklin Street and the East side of Hassan street.
2. Applicant must have an ownership interest in the property.
3. Applicant must use a portion of the building for commercial purposes.
4. The total outstanding obligation (including loans under this program) secured by the property must be less than 100% of the assessor’s estimated market value, or the appraised value, whichever is greater.
5. Applicant must not have started or completed work on the proposed project.
6.  Proposed improvements must comply with the Minnesota State Building Code for rehabilitation work.
7. Eligible improvements include exterior improvement to buildings, as well as interior improvements such as general remodeling and improvements related to safety, accessibility, habitability, and energy consumption.  Specific eligible improvements include the following:

Eligible exterior improvements:

Eligible safety, accessibility, habitability and energy efficiency improvements:

Eligible interior improvements include only general remodeling of areas that are accessible to the public, to include:

Ineligible uses of funding include: :

Terms

1. The downtown loan program may provide loans ranging from $5,000 to $60,000 per project.  Other loan amounts may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2. The interest rate will be fixed at the current Prime Rate minus 1% (as noted in the current Wall Street Journal). Loans up to $10,000 will have a 7 year term.  Loans above $10,000 will have a 10 year term.
3. If a Federal Government Lending program is involved with a project, this loan may be amortized as required by the Federal program at the rate of Prime + 2%, fixed, with a note maturity of not more than 10 years. Said loans may be refinanced for up to 10 additional years at the then current Prime Rate + 2%, fixed.

Conditions

1. If the applicant has an EDA loan or loans in repayment, the applicant is eligible for no more than the difference between the maximum loan amount and the amount due on the active loan(s). For example, if the previous loan(s) total $30,000 with a balance due and payable of $10,000 – the property owner would be eligible for no more than $20,000 in new financing.
2. The applicant may use no more than 30% of the loan for interior improvements other than heating, electrical, plumbing, insulation, handicap accessibility, and/or asbestos abatement.
3. Loans on property sold by contract-for-deed are due when the title transfers.
4. All owners must join in the application, including contract holders. (In case of Life Estate, at least one-third of the owners must join in the application).
5. A mortgage, a note, and a personal guarantee will secure all loans. The mortgage will be collateralized in a first lien position whenever possible.
6. The loan-to-value ratio must not exceed 100% of the greater assessor’s estimated market value or the property’s appraised value; if needed, an appraisal will be done at the owner’s expense. In the event an appraisal is required, the cost of obtaining the appraisal will be the responsibility of the borrower. The final report must be mailed, faxed, or emailed from the appraisal firm directly to the EDA. Any appraisal submitted with the application or delivered by the borrower WILL NOT be accepted.
7. Loan applicants will pay a non-refundable application fee of $200 that will be used to verify ownership of property and for recording fees associated with the mortgage.  If the cost of executing the loan exceeds $200, the remaining balance associated with closing costs will be paid or withheld from loan proceeds at the time of loan closing.  These costs include, but are not limited to:

Application Materials

1. Applicant must provide a copy of the most recent business financial statements.
2. Applicant must provide a copy of personal financial statements from all partners / guarantors who have 25% or more ownership in the business.
3. Applicant must provide a copy of Federal Tax returns for the last two years on all partners / guarantors who have 25% or more ownership in the business.
4. Applicant must provide one bid for each project under $15,000.  Projects over $15,000 require two bids.
5. If the project involves exterior beautification, the applicant must provide a sketch of the proposed work.
6. Required documents must be submitted by the first Friday of the month to be considered by the Finance Team and EDA Board.

Loan Application Review Process

1. EDA staff will evaluate the loan application to determine eligibility.  Staff will forward applications that meet the eligibility criteria to the EDA Finance Team.
2. Once office staff makes a determination the application meets eligibility requirements, the Hutchinson building inspector and / or EDA staff will conduct an inspection of the property.  At the inspection, there will be a determination if corrective actions are necessary for the property to conform to the City of Hutchinson’s rehabilitation standards.
3. The Finance Team considers loan applications on the third Wednesday of the month.  The Finance Team in not the final arbiter.  They make recommendations to approve or deny loan applications to the EDA Board of Directors.  If the Finance Team needs more information to consider an application, they will table the discussion until the following month.
4. The EDA Board of Directors considers loan applications on the fourth Wednesday of the month.  EDA staff will notify applicants of the decision as soon as possible after the board meeting.

IMPORTANT: Work may not begin before EDA Board approval.

Upon Approval

1. Weather permitting, contractors must complete work within 120 days of the date the promissory note is executed by borrowers.
2. If the final project cost exceeds the amount the borrower qualified for, the borrower must obtain the additional funds from another source.
3. Loan funds will remain in an escrow account maintained by the City of Hutchinson until work is complete.
4. If the borrower completed the work, loan proceeds will not be disbursed prior to purchase and installation of. The City will issue a two-party check payable to both the borrower and the materials provider. The borrower must obtain all permits and have the work inspected by the City of Hutchinson and / or other appropriate personnel as required by city ordinance.
5. The items listed below must be received before funds can be released from the escrow account:

• Final, original invoice from contractor (or material list from supplier)
• A completed W-9
• Completion certificates signed by the borrower and the contractor
• Copies of all required city permits (also indicating final inspection by the city when necessary)
• Final inspection by the EDA (if necessary)
• Lien wavers

Please call the Hutchinson EDA at 320.234.5652 if you have any questions or need additional information.