This is just one instance of wonderful contest feedback. RWA offers a multitude of contests and you should read the criteria carefully to discern which one best suits your needs. Many contests offer editors as finalist judges. This is a great way to get your manuscript in front of an editor. If she's interested, she will probably request the entire thing.
Most contests offer a critique, either as a part of entering or an extra option.
Having a fresh pair of eyes examine your entry is invaluable as this unbiased judge can catch things your critique group, who have lived with this story for a while, have missed. Some contests, such as the Golden Heart, Silver Heart, and Maggie, hold a certain prestige by becoming a winner. I once had an agent ask to see my manuscript simply because it was a finalist in the Colorado Romance Writer's Heart of the Rockies Contest. You can use these wins in your query letters as additional credentials of your writing. Just entering a contest shows you're willing to learn and grow.