Heritage Ohio has announced the 2011 certification of Portsmouth as a National Main Street Community. Main Street Portsmouth has been a member of the Main Street program since 2007, and according to the national organization, continues to work toward revitalizing the historic downtown district.

“We are very pleased to announce that Portsmouth has been recognized as a Nationally Accredited Main Street Community for 2011,” said Jeff Siegler, director of revitalization for Heritage Ohio. “This designation is a testament to the hard work and commitment of the Main Street Portsmouth board of directors, staff and volunteers. Being recognized as a National Main Street Community signifies that Main Street Portsmouth is proficient in the 10 criteria as set by the National Main Street Center. Meeting these criteria is a strong indicator of an organization’s ability to successfully revitalize downtown and maintain a healthy and sustainable district.”

Zoe Richards, executive director of Main Street Portsmouth, said this is the fifth year in a row that MSP has been accredited.

“It means that the things that Main Street Portsmouth is doing is following along with what the National Trust of Historic Preservation expects us to do,” Richards said. “We are guided by Heritage Ohio and the National Trust based on other Main Street programs that have been a success throughout the United States. And we are doing great — doing exactly what these other programs are doing — and they think that wonderful things are happening with Main Street Portsmouth and our community.”

Siegler said, in 2010, $135,174,342 was invested across 34 Main Street districts. For each dollar that went into the local budget, communities saw more than $35 in improvements, such as renovations, new construction and façade improvements.

In 2010, Main Street Portsmouth awarded its second set of matching Downtown Building Improvement Grants totaling $25,000 to owners of local properties for improvements, totaling $175,000.