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A move to promote U.S. 27 as a scenic and historical tourist route through Georgia is gaining momentum — with legislation awaiting the governor’s signature and a meeting of elected officials from 20 or so counties set for today.

“This will be a great economic boost for all the areas along the corridor,” said Polk County Commission Chairman Billy Croker, a major force behind the effort.

The highway runs down the western edge of the state, from Tennessee to Florida, and its corridor includes most of the Coosa Valley region. A coalition of counties formed the Highway 27 Association in 1994, but activity tapered off in 2000, after their lobbying for four-laning the route bore fruit.

A bill that passed the Georgia General Assembly last week makes U.S. 27 and U.S. 441 through Athens the first officially designated alternative tourism routes in the state. Sponsored by state Sens. Jeff Mullis, R-Chickamauga, and Preston Smith, R-Rome, the measure requires the Department of Economic Development to promote the routes and their attractions.

“The bill augments what we want to do,” said Bill Steiner, executive director of the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center. “Given the congestion along (Interstate) 75, I feel pretty good about (the initiative). I’ve seen this work in other states, where it has greatly enhanced tourism.”

Croker, Steiner and Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell are chairing a revival of the old association members today at the Association County Commissioners of Georgia annual meeting in Savannah. They’re seeking new commitments and $1,000 seed-money from participants.

“We’re working to get every county to find their best asset to promote,” Heiskell said. “It might be a place; it might be a person; it might be an event or a product.”

Chieftains Museum and Clocktower Hill in Rome, Big Spring Park in Cedartown and even Rock City in Chattanooga, Tenn., are among the regional attractions that could be folded into the overall plan.

“Rossville is doing a streetscape that goes right to Tennessee,” Heiskell said. “That’s the gateway to Georgia, and we’re very proud it’s happening.”

The Little White House in Warm Springs, Callaway Gardens, the Coca-Cola Space Science Center and Lake Seminole are a few of the other potential offerings.

Steiner said the four Regional Development Centers along the route are involved in the initiative, and “we have a strong verbal commitment (of funding) from some state and federal programs” once a strategic plan is created and adopted. The local Chambers of Commerce also are expected to participate.

When all is said and done, tourism is probably the biggest industry in the state, Croker said, and an influx of travelers would benefit all the communities along the Highway 27 corridor.