Downtown revitalization experts from Main Street South Carolina and the National Trust Main Street Center will visit Summerville on July 30 to August 1 to assess the downtown area's greatest challenges and opportunities and to recommend a course of action for Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management). Assessment Team Leaders, Beppie LeGrand, from Main Street South Carolina, and Nick Kalogeresis, from the National Trust Main Street Center, will arrive in Summerville on Wednesday evening to begin two days of interviews, tours and meetings. At the end of the two days, they will meet with community leaders to present their observations and to propose a course of action to strengthen the downtown revitalization efforts.

"The Assessment will provide us with an objective analysis of the downtown's biggest needs," according to Kate McCaw, president of Summerville D.R.E.A.M. Board of Directors. "Main Street South Carolina and The National Trust Main Street Center have worked with over 1,900 towns and cities, including many here in South Carolina. Together, they have a wealth of experience to share with us. We are hoping that the Assessment will help us determine the strategies we should pursue and what specific actions we should take to revitalize the downtown area."

The Assessment will focus on the downtown's greatest needs and will give leaders of Summerville D.R.E.A.M. an achievable list of activities to strengthen the downtown's economy and make the best possible use of its historic and traditional commercial buildings.

"A community's downtown is one of the most important parts of its economy," said Beppie LeGrand. "It is also the community's most public place, a place that truly belongs to everyone and that reflects the community's evolution and vision. A healthy downtown is a sign of a healthy community."

Main Street South Carolina is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina and has worked with various communities in all parts of the state to implement the Main Street Approach through strong local programs. In addition to assisting communities with the formation of their Main Street Program, Main Street South Carolina strives to bring value added incentives to participating communities that promote economic growth and capacity building successes. The National Trust Main Street Center, a program of the nonprofit National Trust for Historic Preservation, has helped over 1,900 communities throughout the United States revitalize their downtowns. To date, communities participating in the Main Street program have generated over $31.5 billion in new downtown investment, with a net gain of over 331,417 new jobs and 72,387 new businesses. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Main Street Center's impressive record of accomplishment in helping communities create new jobs and attract investment makes the Main Street program one of the most successful economic development programs in the nation. In addition to offering on-site downtown revitalization assistance to communities, the National Trust Main Street Center publishes training materials, offers workshops and conferences, conducts research on critical commercial revitalization issues, sponsors the only professional downtown management certification program, and provides national advocacy. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Main Street Center's parent organization, was chartered by Congress in 1949. A nonprofit organization with more than 200,000 members, the National Trust has seven regional offices, owns 26 historic house museums and works with thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.

Summerville D.R.E.A.M. (Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management) is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life in Summerville by enhancing the aesthetic, cultural, social and economic aspects of the Historic Downtown district while preserving its historic identity. Affiliated with Main Street SC (MASC) and the National Main Street Association, Summerville D.R.E.A.M. works to enhance community identity and pride by providing "hometown" events, assisting businesses with design improvements, building tourism and marketing Historic Downtown Summerville to residents and guests. For more information, please call 843- 821-7260 or visit our Web site at www.summervilledream.org.