More than 200 people gathered in Ridgeville Saturday for a Fall Family Fest hosted by the Leadership Dorchester class of 2022. The capstone of the festival was the ribbon cutting for the REV Pavilion, a project 10 months in the making.

Each Leadership Dorchester class selects its own project with the goal of leaving a lasting impact on the community, and the 2022 class chose the DHC as its area of focus. Class members raised more than  $63,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to construct a 14x20’ pavilion on DHC's site, located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 78 and S.C. Highway 27.

Centrally located within Dorchester County, DHC's new home in Ridgeville will offer more space for exhibits, artifacts and archives that tell the County's story. In addition to driving foot traffic and interest toward the DHC site, the REV Pavilion will offer community access and fulfill a need for flexible venue space within the area.

The mission of DHC is "to discover, preserve and promote the history of the Inland Lowcountry by weaving the stories of our people, land and culture into the fabric of daily life and future growth."

 Leadership Dorchester class member Justin Lee of Gilbert & Lee Construction said, “It was a privilege to be involved with the class of 2022 and support a worthy cause such as the DHC in their efforts to preserve the County’s history. Together, we created a facility that thousands will be able to enjoy for many, many years.” 



 Leadership Dorchester, hosted by the Greater Summerville/Dorchester County Chamber of Commerce, is an 11-month intensive and comprehensive study of the political, civic, economic and social dynamics in action within Dorchester County. The class participates in unique experiences, including team-building exercises, professional network development, training, and leadership development. 

Leadership Dorchester emphasizes diversity and develops proactive, forward-thinking leaders that can identify and offer unique solutions to specific community issues. The primary objective is to increase awareness, knowledge and understanding of the region’s economy and community networks while developing the County’s future community and political leaders.

The Chamber’s mission is to protect and promote the quality of life in the community, with specific emphasis on improving economic vitality and providing a favorable business climate. Since its establishment in 1911, the Chamber has been an integral part of the growth of Summerville and the surrounding areas