As the time draws closer for Manatee County's State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program funds to become available, the Manatee Coalition for Affordable Housing wants to help first-time homebuyers prepare.

• Helen Catherine Higgins recently joined Coldwell Banker Commercial NRT's Sarasota office. The native of Scotland has been a resident of the Sarasota area for 13 years. Higgins has experience in sales and marketing in the hospitality and tourism industries. She will work with Anthony Migliore in the commercial real estate market.

MTV Applies Web Lessons to 'Yo Momma' Campaign

SAN FRANCISCO MTV is applying lessons learned from past marketing efforts about the power of online communities to the new marketing strategy for its show Yo Momma. Using young people's natural affinity for trash talking--and their equally strong craving for Internet fame--the network is seeking to forge a bond with viewers that promotes the show and stays alive long after the TV program is over.

Yo Momma, the third season of which launched in June, is a reality contest that pits jokesters around the country who trash talk each other to comic effect. Marketing for the show revolves around a related online contest, "Let's Bully," launched in mid-July, encouraging viewers to compete in their own insult contests by creating characters and personalized jokes that they can send to their friends.

Yogen Fruz continues its expansion into the US: San Francisco Bay Area, California

Yogen Fruz USA Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company has completed a Master Franchise Agreement with Two Towers Inc. for the San Francisco Bay Area, in the state of California, U.S.A. This agreement extends to cities with a middle-to-high income demographic such as Berkley and Walnut Creek.

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