Celebrating our 16th Year in Downtown Summerville!

Affiliated with Main Street South Carolina and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Main Street Center, Summerville D.R.E.A.M. promotes community pride and involvement through event coordination, business education and advocacy, supporting aesthetic improvements, fostering tourism and marketing Historic Downtown Summerville to residents and guests.

Downtown Summerville is a celebration of heritage and natural beauty. The community still gathers at Town Square for the 4th of July. Friday night high school football draws a spirited, overflowing crowd. And in early December, the holiday season is ushered in when town folks meet at Town Square for the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting when thousands of white lights are turned on to brighten the downtown district. 

It's all right here in Summerville... great restaurants, elegant shops, outdoor recreation, and historic sites... the amenities are endless! In Downtown Summerville, you will find a warm and welcoming community filled with a sense of undying respect for its past and a relentless commitment to its future. We hope you enjoy your stay and will return again.

n 1991, downtown Summerville, like many small towns across the country, was facing hard times; 40% of the buildings were vacant. Lifelong residents Rick Sutton and Cada McCoy rolled up their sleeves and did something about it. They drew together several hundred people and spent a year meeting, talking, exploring, and researching. The result was the formation of D.R.E.A.M., the non-profit organization dedicated to the revitalization of the downtown area. Since 1992, D.R.E.A.M. has helped to bring focus and support to Summerville and its Historic Downtown district.

Mission

Summerville D.R.E.A.M. is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historic identity, ensuring the economic vitality, and promoting a sense of community in the heart of Downtown Summerville.

Main Street Approach

Summerville D.R.E.A.M. is a member of Main Street SC, an affiliate of the National Main Street Program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and follows the “Main Street Approach” to downtown redevelopment and promotion.  

The Main Street Approach was developed in 1976 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Main Street.   The approach joins historic preservation and economic development to form a downtown redevelopment strategy. It consists of four points: Organization, Promotion, Design and Economic Restructuring.

Operating Budget

Operating funds are gratefully received from: Town of Summerville - Grants and Donations - Fund-Raising Events - Annual Membership Dues

Benefits and Services

Summerville D.R.E.A.M. offers a variety of benefits and services to all businesses and property owners located in Downtown Summerville.  By joining Summerville D.R.E.A.M., you affirm your commitment to Summerville as well as benefit from the following:

• Opportunity to participate in Special Events and Promotions coordinated with businesses.
• Inclusion in the annual “Welcome to Downtown Summerville” brochure and map with a listing of all downtown businesses as well as through advertisements in local and statewide publications
• Financial Assistance available through Facade Grants
• Participation in the Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Gift Certificate Program
• Invitation to Business Planning workshops with S.C.O.R.E. representatives
• Newsletter promotion
• Listing on the Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Web site
• Listing in D.R.E.A.M. Hotel Lobby book highlighting Downtown Summerville
• Access to Main Street SC and the National Main Street program staff and resources through the Summerville D.R.E.A.M. office