Heads Up Landscape Contractors donated more than $10,000 of materials and labor to complete the landscape for Erin’s Place. The facility, a project of the Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico, is designed to be a “home away from home for children to receive pediatric hospice care when it is not available in their hometowns.”

John Deere awarded Eric Moores, a high school building trades instructor in Woodbine, Iowa, with the grand prize of the inaugural “Small Machines. Big Impact.” contest, beating out 665 contestants. As the winner, Moores will take home a 333G compact track loader with a WorkSite Pro bucket attachment. The equipment will assist his project “Teaching Tomorrow’s Builders,” which includes hands-on learning in his class as well as other community improvement projects.

Franchise Business Review compiled its 2017 Top Low-Cost Franchises list, which included two landscape companies: U.S. Lawns and Weed Man. Mosquito Joe, which offers commercial and residential mosquito control, also made the list. Eighty brands with a minimum investment of under $100,000 made the list, which is based solely on franchisee satisfaction. It was compiled by analyzing satisfaction survey data from 13,000 franchisees from 123 brands.

The Toro Co. partnered with Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United. Toro will be the official provider of the turf equipment and irrigation products that help maintain the team’s stadiums and surrounding green space. The irrigation system will use T7 Series rotors and be managed by Toro’s Sentinel central control system. The pair has not yet decided on the necessary mowing and turf cultivation equipment.

Photo: John Deere