The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association is a division of the Michigan Manufactured Housing, RV and Campground Association, which is a full-service, non-profit, state trade association, representing the manufactured housing, recreational vehicle and private campground industries in the state of Michigan. The MMH & RVCA offers a wide variety of services to aid you in the operation of your business and save you money as well. Services include legal counsel and legislative advocacy, governmental relations, in-house public relations programs, liability insurance and a clearinghouse of information where members can obtain a wide variety of general and technical publications. The MMH & RVCA is comprised of two divisional organizations (MMHA and MARVAC), with each serving their specific industry's needs. MMHA and MARVAC have separate board of directors that represent their respective industries. An executive board, made up of four representatives from each of the two divisional boards, governs the association.

Michigan Manufactured Housing Association

The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association is the division that represents the manufactured housing industry in Michigan. MMHA's membership includes manufacturers, retailers, communities/rental communities, installer/servicers, suppliers, insurance companies, financial/lending institutions and special service firms.

Membership Services

All members are encouraged to participate in association programs and take advantage of MMHA's many services. Whether you need insurance, legal counsel, an architect, engineer or some other related service firm, the association has the answer! Members seeking a particular service or specific advice need only contact the association office to have their questions answered. The staff serves as a referral service to help members locate the services they require. Versed in all segments of the industry, the staff can assist you in responding to technical questions or help you deal with the local and state government units. The professional staff is always as near as your phone. You can reach our staff Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (after hours, just leave a voice mail message) by calling 517.349.3300 or 800.422.6478.

Public Relations for the Industry

The association has ongoing public relations programs that continue to develop positive images of the manufactured housing industry. MMHA keeps consumers, government officials, trade publications and media sources throughout the state informed about the role manufactured housing plays in meeting today's housing needs, as well as educating them about how the industry creates a more vibrant Michigan by constantly improving the housing resources.

Operation Tell Michigan

Operation Tell Michigan (OTM) is a marketing program that is funded by member manufacturer dues. OTM is responsible for print advertisements and television commercials that bring awareness to thousands of Michigan residents each year and prompt them to call our toll-free number and request free consumer information packages. Each OTM-funded package contains such items as the Michigan Home publication, the "Invest in a Manufactured Home" financing brochure, the "Broker" brochure promoting existing homes, and a DVD of "Behind the Scenes," the 28-minute infomercial promoting the manufactured home industry.

The official Web site for MMHA, www.michhome.org, is maintained by OTM and contains information for consumers, the media, MMHA members and public policy makers. This all-inclusive site contains a wealth of information and is updated regularly. In the past 12 months, the site has received over 129,000 visitors. Consumers who request a consumer information package are added to a sales leads database. This information is provided to MMHA member retailers via e-mail. The list is also available on the Web site in the member section.

In addition, OTM also funds the creation and printing of OTM sales materials such as brochures, posters, postcards and videos. These items are designed to help with advertising and promotion efforts, as well as to educate the consumer about manufactured homes. All OTM materials are provided to participating members, free of charge.

Communication-Publications and Seminars

One of the most important features of MMHA is its ability to communicate information to its members quickly! The industry produces an e-newsletter called the Communicator, which keeps each member informed about legislation, changes in laws and government regulations, and current trends in the industry. The Communicator also lists activities and events that are important to manufacturers, retailers, community owners and service companies. Previously mailed to members in a printed format, the new world of technology and modern communication has prompted the association's board of directors to adopt this new means to communicate with members starting in 2007. The new format will be easier to read and easier to forward to employees and related industry parties. In addition to the e-newsletter, MMHA keeps its members posted regarding important information that affects their business and industry through timely, special bulletins.

Continuing education for members is a major priority of the association. Our seminars offer intense learning opportunities for members who are interested in sharpening their skills, and provide members from all segments of the industry with the opportunity to share and receive information from industry experts. MMHA's annual seminars for community owners and manufactured home retailers have been highly successful. Through the seminars, members from all segments of the industry are kept informed about new business procedures, legal and legislative issues, and governmental regulations that could affect their business and industry.

Members are encouraged to participate in "The Accredited Community Manager" (ACM) and the "Professional Housing Consultant" (PHC) programs. The ACM is the designation awarded by the Manufactured Housing Educational Institute to manufactured home community owners and managers who meet experience requirements, have fulfilled MHEI's educational criteria and pledge to uphold a strict code of ethics. The ACM designation is a unique opportunity for manufactured home community managers to identify themselves as committed professionals. The PHC designation signifies an individual's superior knowledge of manufactured housing and professional conduct in the sale of manufactured homes. The PHC designation provides an opportunity for manufactured home sales personnel to identify themselves as committed professionals. MMHA, in conjunction with the Manufactured Housing Division of the Michigan Department of Consumer and Industry Services, has developed an alternative installer/servicer course for companies in the Michigan market. This course will fulfill the State requirement for certification needed for licensing in Michigan.

Conferences, Meetings, Trade Shows and Annual Outings

The association's annual conference combines a full range of seminars and workshops with social activities. The event provides members with the opportunity to discuss common problems and exchange ideas with industry associates. At this conference, the year-end activities are completed as the association welcomes its officers for the new term.

MMHA's members are organized into regional chapters throughout the state. Members are encouraged to attend their local chapter meeting where they will have the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss local issues and develop action plans to resolve existing problems. Often, special speakers are invited to discuss topics of general interest to the membership. These chapter meetings provide members with the opportunity to participate at the "grass roots" level of the decision-making process regarding the issues that affect them. Each regional chapter division has a representative on the association's board of directors.

The association participates in the sponsorship of annual trade shows for the purpose of displaying the industry's products to members, the public, members of the media and government officials. MMHA is one of the five state trade associations that comprise the Midwest Manufactured Housing Federation that co-sponsors the annual trade show in Louisville.

MMHA also hosts an annual spring and fall golf outing, with the proceeds benefitting the HARVEST Education Foundation.

HARVEST Education Foundation and "The Great Wall of Tiles"

HARVEST is a non-profit education foundation created by the Michigan Manufactured Housing Association. Its purpose is to establish educational programs and opportunities for individuals who wish to make a career in the manufactured housing industry or simply receive scholarship help because they are a family member of the association.

The association office and conference center is home to "The Great Wall," a mosaic of handsome, commemorative tiles dedicated to honoring those who have contributed to our cause of furthering education in our combined industries. This tax-deductible contribution is a wonderful way to pay tribute to industry members, including members of your own family or business, while supporting the work of the HARVEST foundation.