Community
Development

Welcome to the City of Portsmouth, Office of Community Development. This Office is dedicated to the improvement of the City. We have three primary responsibilities:

• We work to improve the infrastructure necessary to provide adequate water, sewer, transportation and communications for the citizens of the City.
  
  This work is accomplished by making applications to appropriate local, State and Federal agencies for grants and loans.

• We work to improve the economic circumstances of the citizens of the City.
  
  Using tools like our Business Revolving Loan Fund or other State and Federal programs, we are always looking for ways to make Portsmouth a business friendly community. We will facilitate meetings with local officials regarding money for job creation and retention; appropriate compliances with local, State and federal regulations; or address any other issue necessary to make your business venture inside the City limits successful.

• We work to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the City.
  
  The Office routinely provides up to three months of technical assistance to non-profit organizations seeking to increase organizational capacity and improve the quality of life inside the City limits. Past projects have included assistance in drafting new constitutions and by-laws, facilitating application to the Internal Revenue Service for non-profit status and assistance in writing grant applications for non-profits.