The 18-county alliance — which includes Floyd, Chattooga, Walker and Polk counties — expects to learn in September whether a OneGeorgia Authority grant will fund a $78,000 strategic marketing plan for the corridor.

The highway is one of two in Georgia designated as alternative tourism routes through the state.

“The Georgia Department of Economic Development already has identified key assets,” said Lloyd Frasier, planning director for the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center. “This study will identify more, along with the best ways to promote them to vacation travelers.”

The study will take six to eight months to complete, Frasier said.

Meanwhile, signs already are going up along the route to mark a historic courthouse tour that starts in Ringg

Representatives of the Route 27 Association counties stand with Walker County’s Virgil Sperry, who was recognized for his leadership in the alliance. See end for more. (Diane Wagner/RN-T)

old and winds down along U.S. 27 to Bainbridge in South Georgia.

The 15-year-old signs found in storage last year belonged to the original Highway 27 Association, formed to push for four-laning of the entire length of the road.

On Thursday the CVRDC gave its “Distinguished Coosa Valley Citizen” award to Virgil Sperry of Walker County for his work in reviving the alliance to take advantage of the completed widening.

“He’s been a shining star for us,” said Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell. “This new marketing initiative ought to take us to the next level.”

The RDC also quickly and unanimously appointed Polk County Commissioner Billy Croker to a private-sector seat on the board, effective in January.

Croker’s term on the RDC board would have expired with his County Commission term in December — but RDC representatives from the 10-county region said they did not want to lose his experience and statewide connections.

Bill Steiner, executive director of the RDC, said continuity will be especially important next year as the regional planning agencies reorganize.

New legislation combines the Coosa Valley and North Georgia RDCs, but North Georgia members have so far declined to sign a resolution accepting the state-mandated change.

Croker has been in talks with the Dalton-based agency, trying to work out a smooth transition. It is unclear what will happen if they balk, but Steiner said a loss of state funding is likely.