Projects and Accomplishments

Since 1992, Summerville D.R.E.A.M. has helped to bring focus and support to Summerville and its Historic Downtown district.  Below are a few of the projects and accomplishments, which have occurred over the past 15 years:

      Economic Restructuring and Design

• In 1991 downtown had a 40% vacancy rate and through the efforts of Summerville D.R.E.A.M., downtown is “filled” with a nice mix of retail stores, restaurants, and offices and has reclaimed its status as the center of community.
• Sold more than $40,000 in Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Gift Certificates that were spent in member businesses.
• Provided free façade designs for downtown businesses through the Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Design committee and Main Street SC.
• Served as a liaison between downtown merchants and the Town of Summerville for the downtown parking garage and showed support for businesses on Short Central with signage “Shops and Restaurants of Short Central are Open for Business” during construction.
• Awarded a $2,500 South Carolina Arts Commission Planning Grant to develop a feasibility study of “Short Central Avenue” as an Arts and Entertainment District for Summerville.
• Funded through grants and donations 16 new trashcans for the downtown area. 
• Created the “Well Done Hometown Improvement” signs to commend owners of businesses or historic homes who have made substantial improvements to their property through renovation or landscaping. 
• Placed brown SC DOT signs on I26 directing motorists to Historic Downtown Summerville.
• Positioned entryway and directional signs, featuring the logo created by Summerville D.R.E.A.M. to exemplify “The Flower Town in the Pines," outside Azalea Square and other locations leading to the downtown.
• Contributed landscaping funds for entranceway median on Hwy. 17.
• More than $840,000 in “TEA-21” Grant Money (jointly sponsored by the Town of Summerville and Summerville D.R.E.A.M.) has been awarded for streetscape enhancements and hikers/biker trails from Historic Downtown Summerville to Trolley Road.
• Have picked up litter on the I-26 cloverleaf areas entering and departing from Summerville.
• Created the Mary P. Whitmore Beautification Fund, through the generosity of Joe Whitmore of Woodlands Resort & Inn, to purchase trees to plant on town-owned land. Individual donations have been consolidated, totaling over $20,000 for tree purchases, including the row of oaks on the Berlin G. Myers Parkway. 
• Awarded the National Tree Trust grant of 1,400 young trees planted on public grounds. 

Promotion and Organization

• Have published “Welcome to Historic Downtown Summerville” and “Holly Days” brochures promoting downtown Summerville and member businesses in Welcome Centers across SC.
• Sponsors Community Events such as Concerts on the Square, “Red, White and Blue on the Green” (4th of July), “Harvest Moon Hayrides” (Halloween), Taste of the Town (Veteran’s Day), “Saturdays with Santa,” “Holly Days” and the Annual Holiday Parade (December)
• Supports the Summerville Farmer’s Market along with First Citizen’s Bank
• Produces items that say "Summerville" including Town of Summerville Lithographs and Cards by Adurline Chellis, “Summerville / Flowertown in the Pines logo” License Tags and Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Christmas ornaments.
• “Downtown as a Classroom” - Summerville won second place in the state in both years of participation in the  “Downtown as a Classroom” programs, teaching students to understand & appreciate the history, people and businesses that have shaped Summerville.
•  “Charleston Tele-Guide” -  Summerville D.R.E.A.M. created and produced a commercial which runs 18 times a day in 6,000 hotel rooms in Charleston and nearby resorts, and is reported by downtown businesses to bring more tourists to shop than any other advertising vehicle.
• "Golden Pineapple" Award - In 2000, this award was presented to DREAM executive director, Nancy Jean Nettles, by the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau for dedication to the quality growth of the hospitality industry.
• “Best Retirement Locations in the Southeast” – Summerville D.R.E.A.M. provided research and funding to include Summerville as one of three South Carolina cities named in this national video, which was placed in over 1,000 libraries across America.
• “Palmetto Places” - Summerville D.R.E.A.M. did the research for ETV to create a 30-minute television documentary featuring Summerville, which, according to the producer, brought in more inquiries than any other program in the Palmetto Places series.
• "Prettiest Small Town in America" Contest – Summerville D.R.E.A.M. coordinated and organized the application, including four pages of sites to be photographed, for this award sponsored by Ladies' Home Journal.
• Supports local initiatives to improve Summerville including the Tourism Council, HDMA, Sculpture in the South, Flowertown Players, Junior Service League of Summerville, Summerville-Dorchester Museum and many more!