Downtown Rochester has been honored again.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson honored the downtown on Wednesday for its accreditation by the National Main Street Center in Washington, DC, as part of the Main Street Oakland County program.

Rochester was one of six communities honored at the ceremony at the newly opened Rust Belt Market in Ferndale.

"We were part of the three introductory communities, and it's amazing to see how Rochester has changed over the years," Rochester DDA Executive Kristi Trevarrow said.

Patterson started MSOC in 2000 as an economic development program specifically targeted to provide technical assistance to the county's downtowns.  

Oakland County Commissioner Jeff Matis of Rochester praised Trevarrow and his city's downtown.

"It means so much to us," Matis said. "It's hard-working people in the community and the county, but most of all it's Kristi. She's the captain of the ship."

Downtown Rochester is home to more than 350 shops, salons, restaurants and professional services; it has a 3 percent retail building vacancy. The downtown was honored by MSOC earlier this year for having the Outstanding Fundraising Project (the Big, Bright Light Ball) and Outstanding Downtown Investment (the 415-417 building).

Among artisan wares and fares at the Rust Belt on Wednesday, Patterson handed out awards to the various Downtown Development Authority directors and city officials. In addition to Rochester and Ferndale, downtowns in Farmington, Lake Orion, Ortonville and Oxford also received awards.

- Kristin Bull contributed to this report.