The Portland Public Market received the following awards during MVI's tenure developing and operating the Market.

Community Building By Design Award
United States Department of Housing & Urban Development/American Association ofArchitects, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
May 2000

The Portland Public Market was honored as the first-ever recipient of this national award. "The award goes to projects that play an exemplary role in helping to revitalize the communities in which they are located by enhancing the community'sphysical fabric," announced Ronald Scaggs, president of the AIA during the awards ceremony in May, 2000 in Philadelphia. Both HUD and AIA felt the need to recognize excellence in design and community planning and this reward honors the hard work and planning that went into the creation of the Portland Public Market.

2000 Exemplary Economic Development Planning Award
American Planning Association, Annandale, Virginia
April 2000

The Portland Public Market was chosen for this national award as an excellent example of downtown revitalization and for the quality of the project. Director Ted Spitzer, a national authority on public markets, was sited in particular for his background and noted for his collaborative effort with the Preble Street Resource Center in aiding the development of Stone Soup Foods. "This Public Market business supports job training to clients at Preble Street's busy social service agency. The Portland Public Market's impact on the city includes many positive strengths as it has become a major downtown destination to area residents and tourists alike," said Rebecca Winders of APA. The award ceremony took place in New York City at the annual meeting in April 2000.

1999 Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence – Silver Medalist
The Bruner Foundation
January 1999

The Portland Public Market was chosen as one of five winners of the Rudy Bruner Award for Urban Excellence, one of America's most prestigious architecture and design awards. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the Bruner Foundation sponsors this biennial competition focusing on the complex process of urban placemaking. "The finalists represent wonderful, innovative thinking on the part of developers, builders and support organization," said award founder Simeon Bruner. "They show very creative use of urban spaces that also make a positive contribution to their surrounding environment, a key point for our award." For more information: www.brunerfoundation.org

1999 Downtown Achievement Awards for Economic Development
Award of Merit
International Downtown Association,
Washington, DC
October 1999

For more than 13 years, the International Downtown Association (IDA) Downtown Achievement Awards Programhas celebrated the best that downtown revitalization and management has to offer. The awards aregiven annuallyto recognize exemplary and innovative projects, strategies, and events in downtown revitalization. IDA described the Portland Public Market as follows: A newly constructed indoor freshfood market in downtown is a state-of-the-art facility housing 25 permanent vendors and eight day stalls for products grown or produced in Maine. The architecturally pleasing market hall takes itscue from Maine's timber country. Most significant of all is the strong on-site management and networked point-of-sale computer system providing accurate centralized information. The market isalso wired for e-commerce providing an extensive web site and vendor links to the site. The jury awarded the Merit award to this model public market for its demonstration of how philanthropy, small business, and government can create a forward-looking commercial enterprise.

Honor Award, American Institute of Architects, 1999
New England Chapter, American Institute of Architects
November 1999

Awarded biennially, this award is the highest designation given for excellence in design and architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

Future Landmark Award
Greater Portland Landmarks, Portland, Maine
October 1998

Each year, Greater Portland Landmarks recognizes Portland's best historic structures and visual landscapes. This year's awards were reinvented to make the categories more competitive. In winning the first Future Landmark Award, the Portland Public Market was cited as "a new building exhibiting such outstanding design quality and craftsmanship that it may become a community landmark in the future." In addition, the timber-framed architecture of the Public Market was notably credited with "complementing and greatly improving the downtown neighborhood."

The Lighthouse Award
Convention and Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland, Portland, Maine
February 1999

The Portland Public Market was honored at a gala reception sponsored by the Convention and Visitors Bureau to receive its annual Lighthouse Award, presented to a business that exemplifies outstanding leadership in promoting Maine as a tourism destination while enhancing the quality of life for Maine people.