City officials have been boasting of their success in revitalizing the city’s downtown. Earlier this week those boasts were validated by a state group that gave the city a pair of awards for their work.

At Wednesday’s city council meeting, Charlotte L. Anders, a member of the board of directors of the Virginia Downtown Development Association, presented an award to City Manager R. Steven Herbert for his individual commitment to downtown; and one to Mayor Bobby L. Ralph for excellence in organizational aspects of a revitalization effort.

Anders noted that Suffolk had already amassed about 14 awards for downtown revitalization, more than any other community in the state.

&uot;We’re proud of what’s happening with our business district and what’s continuing to happen,&uot; Ralph said.

The awards were announced at the association’s annual meeting which ended earlier this week. Anders announced Wednesday night that the association’s 2006 annual meeting will be held in Suffolk at the Hilton Garden Inn & Conference Center.

andy.prutsok@suffolknewsherald.com