YAZOO CITY, Miss. -- Yazoo City is among nearly 200 cities nationwide in the running to be named the “Prettiest Painted Places in America.” 

“Oh, my God,” said Yazoo County Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Tonja Ray-Smith.  “I cannot tell you how excited and how shocked I was.”

The competition is sponsored by the Paint Quality Institute.  “The purpose is to identify and recognize those towns and neighborhoods that best demonstrate how exterior paint can enhance the appearance of an entire community,” according to Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert for the Paint Quality Institute.

Yazoo City was nominated for his bold and colorful historic downtown buildings.  Sixty finalist will be selected this month; and a panel of judges from major media outlets will select the 12 winners this summer.  “Regardless of how this goes, we are just proud to be even in the running. And, I want to wish everyone in the competition good luck,” said Ray-Smith.

Other Mississippi cities in the competition are Holly Springs, Downtown Jackson, Laurel’s Historic Homes District and Madison.