Vicksburg resident wins $15,000 landscaping prize in association contest

Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association has immersed itself into the spirit of giving by awarding $15,000 in landscaping to three lucky Mississippians. 

The association opened the competition to individuals who purchased a home from an MMHA retailer during May, June or July of 2019.

“As the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association, we represent the industry in the state of Mississippi,” said Lori Hanson, MMHA communications director. “Our board wanted to do something to give back to the residents of Mississippi, and we thought about what do homeowners really want after buying their first home. … We thought something that would be nice for everyone who entered the giveaway was to do a landscaping package and show them what their homes could really look like when proper landscaping is put into place. It really makes their house feel like a home.”

Applicants had to write an essay on why they chose manufactured housing and three winners were selected to receive the landscape giveaway prize.

Winners were located in All American Housing of Brookhaven, Springer Mobile of Woodland and Magnolia Estates of Vicksburg. 

Shyviqua Brooks was Vicksburg’s winner.

“Ms. Brooks wrote about how she was a first-time home buyer and didn’t want to throw away her money on renting and not ever getting anything out of that,” Hanson said. “So she decided to buy her own home and put those funds towards her mortgage to make her money work for her, which we thought was a great story with her being a young entrepreneur and an up-and-coming business woman.”

The idea for the giveaway came to the association after pondering over what more they could do for their buyers.

“We want to show the community that Manufactured Housing in the state of Mississippi is invested in their community,” Hanson said. “We care about our customers, and we want to show that to the community.”