FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12/7/2022
CONTACT:
Janet Cochran
404-276-9142
janet.cochran@abac.edu
U.S. HIGHWAY 27 DESIGNATED FIRST GEORGIA GROWN TRAIL
IN NORTH GEORGIA
ELLIJAY, Ga. – Visitors traveling U.S. Highway 27 in northwest Georgia will see new signs indicating the route’s designation as Georgia Grown Trail 27. The trail, which was approved by legislation in 2021, stretches from the Tennessee line in Walker County through Catoosa, Chattooga, Floyd, Polk, Haralson, and Carroll Counties, from the cities of Rossville to Roopville. There are four other Georgia Grown Trails in the state, but Trail 27 is the first in the north Georgia region.
“At Georgia’s Rural Center, we worked with each county, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Representative Steve Tarvin, and Northwest Georgia Joint Development Authority to facilitate the designation process and erect signs,” said Janet Cochran, project manager for Georgia’s Rural Center. “Trail 27 brings together two of Georgia’s largest industries, tourism and agriculture, to support economic growth and sustainability in this rural part of the state.”
Georgia Grown is the marketing brand of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, and like other Georgia Grown Trails, Trail 27 seeks to bring attention to the area’s local products by driving business to farms, farm markets, dining establishments serving Georgia-grown foods, shops selling Georgia-grown and -made products, wineries, meaderies and other area attractions and events.
“Our efforts at the Georgia Department of Agriculture are to help new agribusinesses grow and existing agribusinesses thrive,” says Cheryl Smith, agritourism manager at Georgia Department of Agriculture. “One way to achieve this is by fostering the development of Georgia Grown Trails. The existing Georgia Grown Trails are economic engines for rural Georgia, and an excellent way to showcase the agritourism operations scattered throughout the state. The new Georgia Grown Trail 27 in north Georgia will give visitors an opportunity to travel the backroads of the region while experiencing all the wonderful agritourism sites along the way.”
The destination marketing organizations in each county are moving forward to build trail membership and a plan for promoting the route to visitors. Information about how to join the trail is available at www.gagrowntrails.com.
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About:
The Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation, aka Georgia’s Rural Center, serves as a central information and research hub for rural best practices, including community planning, industry-specific assistance, and other cooperative efforts with community partners. The center was established by House Bill 951 in 2018, and is housed at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton with a satellite office in Ellijay, GA
Georgia Grown is a division of the Georgia Department of Agriculture, helping new agribusinesses grow and established agribusinesses thrive by bringing producers, processors, suppliers, distributors, retailers, agritourism and consumers together in one powerful, statewide community. The Georgia Grown brand is desired by business and consumers who want to buy and promote Georgia’s locally grown products.
Those in the photo are (L to R):
Janet Cochran, Georgia’s Rural Center
Eric McDonald, Haralson County Chamber of Commerce
Jonathon Dorsey, Carrollton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
Lisa Smith, Rome Office of Tourism
Cheryl Smith, Georgia Department of Agriculture
(not pictured: Amy Jackson, Catoosa County Chamber of Commerce; Jenn Martin, Walker County Chamber of Commerce; Cindy McGraw, Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce; Marianne Wood, Polk County Chamber of Commerce; Ramona Ruark, Downtown Cedartown)
Photo of the new sign on Trail 27.
Graphic art for the signs on Trail 27.