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The 15th-annual South Minneapolis Housing
and Home Improvement Fair proved again to be one of
the most successful and well-attended community events in
the South Minneapolis area.
Free and open
to the public, the annual Fair promotes city
living, home improvement and maintenance, and community
involvement. The
Fair's hallmark is its vendor
exhibits and educational workshops.
 The '09 Fair featured nearly 100 reputable and local contractors,
retailers, Real Estate agents, lenders, and community organizations exhibiting
their services and wares. In addition, attendees had
access to representatives from energy, affordable
housing, green homes and the neighborhood
associations to answer questions.
A variety of how-to, home repair, and design-based workshops and seminars were offered by industry professionals. The 2009 lineup included Home Electrical Wiring Systems, Plumbing Repair Basics for the Home, Distressed Homes for Sale, and Kitchen Design Trends. Many of the workshops were hands-on, and all were free.
In this year's Keynote seminar, Star Tribune Dollars & Sense columnist, John Ewoldt, offered "25 Ways to Save More and Spend Less in 2009." Participants learned a range of ways to save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
New this year was the successful “Ask the Expert” area where experts from varied fields such as master gardening, waste & recycling and home accessibility answered specific questions for anyone who stopped by the tables.
Participants also learned how to save money on their utilities while still keeping their house comfortable at the House of Pressure (HOP) display. This popular, five-foot, see-through model home helps
show how a typical house can operate with respect to safety, comfort, durability and efficiency.
As always, the
Fair remains a family event. For the kids, there was an ongoing special workshop where children built their
own wooden bird feeder to take home and use. The 2009 Fair
also gave away over $2,000 in door
prizes.
For
more information on the Fair, please contact the
Fair's Coordinator, Laura Mullen at laura@housingfair.org
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