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Shaun Swenson is a handyman working a dozen or so odd jobs that add up to one demanding and growing business.
To encourage the business, Swenson Scrapping, Mowing, Painting & More, the Luverne Economic Development Authority is loaning him $5,000.
“He’s really filling a niche in the community,” Mayor Pat Baustian said at the Monday morning LEDA meeting when the loan was approved. “Good for him for stepping up to meet a need.”
In addition to work described in the business name, Swenson landscapes yards, trims trees and cleans rain gutters. In the winter months he removes snow.
But metal scrapping is where he started after working for collector Bill Fluit, Kenneth, for eight years.
“People have been really good at dropping stuff off here,” he said Monday at the lot owned by Al Aanenson next to the former Exhaust Pros building.
“Al lets me use the lot, and he’s trying to sell me the building.”
For now, Swenson said he’s fine with business size as it is. “I’m trying to keep it small,” he said. “But I’m thinking about hiring someone.”
As demand grows for his services, so does his fleet of equipment.
He currently uses four trailers (one enclosed and one a “versa-dump” trailer) plus a small tractor with pallet forks, lawn mowing equipment, and the recent addition of a sprayer to pull behind a John Deere Gator.
The Rural Business Assistance Loan through LEDA will be used for capital equipment purchases and will be repaid at 0-percent interest over five years starting in September.
Swenson is also working with the LEDA to develop a business logo for signage. One of his slogans is “Quality service at a fair price.”
In addition to accepting scrap metal at his trailer on South Highway 75, Swenson travels for a good share of business.
Recent storm damage kept him busy around the clock for over a week. He cleaned up two damaged sheds after a tree fell on them. One was metal and one was wood, but he took it all, because landfill fees are built into his bids.
Swenson said he often gets calls from local businesses who have scrap metal from various projects.
“I do a lot of commercial work,” Swenson said, “but I accept metal from anyone.”
Scrap metal can be dumped in his trailer on South Highway 75, as long as they comply with the “metal only” rules: “No garbage, tires or TVs” and people are asked to call before placing items in the trailer, which is monitored by surveillance cameras.
Swenson’s number is 507-227-6345.