Price Is Right In The Virgin Islands? Yes. At Housing Finance Authority’s Annual Expo

ST. CROIX — Because the Virgin Islands Housing Finance Authority’s housing exhibition, held at the Sunshine Mall here on Saturday, is organized primarily to provide information to people interested in becoming homeowners, those in charge of putting on the annual event must find ways to keep participants interested and the event inviting.

Over the years they’ve tried multiple approaches, including raffling valuable items donated by local businesses who are, in one way or another, tied to the homeownership sector — banks, furniture stores, contractors, Home Depot, businesses that focus on credit repair, insurance companies and more. A slew of government agencies were present as well, including the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, Virgin Islands Territorial Emergency Management Agency and more.

Yesterday, however, event organizers tried something completely new: a Virgin Islands Price is Right game, imitating the original show and drawing the attention of attendees. Hosted by local radio personality and entrepreneur Rashidi Clenance, the game included a Price is Right wheel with the names of local businesses present on Saturday — giving those selected chances to win prizes ranging from furniture to dinner for two. Participants were chosen by writing their names on a piece of paper, and would be randomly picked to play. It was a brilliant departure from the norm that achieved its goal of keeping attendees connected to the event form start to finish.

For Adrienne Williams, V.I.F.H.A.’s executive director, the speed in which the expo has grown and become a mainstay in the territory for community partners to advertise their offerings to potential homeowners, as well as those currently owning homes, has been a fulfilling experience.

“We’ve grown from 30 exhibitors to almost 50,” she said. “Our first sponsors were Banco Popular and Neighborhood Parts, and now we have so many vendors and businesses that sponsor this event, and it’s actually an event that people look forward to attending. They win prizes, get information, and we always tell people this is not only for people who are interested in getting a home; if you have a home there’s something here for you.”

As the event progressed, attendees filed in and out of the space — located on the lower floor of the Sunshine Mall — interacting with vendors and taking brochures. There were also speakers who gave homeownership-related info, including Kurt Schinder, vice president of financial education for Banco Popular in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, who spoke on the importance of knowing your credit, and gave tips on how to keep a good score.

And so the expo proved to be yet another win for the leaders at V.I.H.F.A., playing a recent but important function as the authority continues its work of aiding residents in the process of one of the most important achievements in the United States and its territories: homeownership.

The same event will be held in St. Thomas on June 25, at U.V.I.’s Sports and Fitness Complex.