FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Beth Shields
(512) 463-0111 or (512) 663-4117

LEAGUE CITY - Senator Mike Jackson was honored Thursday, May 15, 2008, in League City at Butler's Courtyard where he received the Texas Manufactured Housing Association's (TMHA) " Texas Affordable Housing Leadership Award."

TMHA is concerned with the entire scope of the Texas manufactured housing industry. The association represents over 1,400 company members from every facet of the industry, including: manufacturers, retailers, communities, insurance companies, supplier of goods and services, sales people, real estate companies, title companies, developers, transporters, installers, financial institutions, brokers, and other affiliates. The association advocates for legislation vital to improving the landscape of the manufactured housing market.

According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, manufactured homes have accounted for almost 30 percent of the new single-family homes sold in the last 20 years and the average home costs around $64,200, which is 20 to 35 percent less a square foot compared to site-built houses.

"With an estimated 2 million Texans residing in manufactured or modular housing and Texas accounting for nearly 14 percent of all new manufactured home shipments in the country, it is vital to support the industry that serves those consumers," said D.J. Pendleton, Deputy Executive Director of the Texas Manufactured Housing Association. "Senator Jackson has continued to lead with his service to this important and vast segment of Texas citizens who live, work, build, sell, service, and count on affordable housing in this state."

"I am honored to receive this award from the Texas Manufactured Housing Association," said Jackson. "During the current housing crisis across the country, TMHA and their members continue to do everything possible to keep manufactured homes reasonably priced for Texans while providing a nice place to live and call their own."

On behalf of TMHA, Ronnie Richards with American Homestar Corporation, presented the senator his award. "Our corporate headquarters are based right here in League City and we have over 750 employees in Texas," said Richards. "I could not be more proud of Senator Jackson's leadership and commitment to affordable housing and to the constituents of Senate District 11."

Mike Jackson serves as Chairman of the Senate Nominations Committee and is a member of the Senate State Affairs, Government Organization and Natural Resources Committees and the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Coastal Resources. He represents Texans in portions of Harris, Galveston and Brazoria Counties.