Some first steps have already been taken to get Polk County more on the map as a tourist destination, but the process will be years in the making as the Polk County Chamber of Commerce’s Blair Elrod gave an update at the six month mark of the agreement between the County Commission and the Chamber covering tourism development.

Elrod, who will soon be leaving her post as the Executive Director, is still working on projects ahead of her departure to get Polk County more involved in state and regional tourism efforts, redevelop the Chamber website, and update the Silver Comet Trail map.

Her update was part of a timeline of milestones the county wanted to meet during a three-year plan to increase visitors to the county in a variety of ways.

She said that the County remains in the first section of the plan in reaching certain milestones, but that getting involved with state tourism officials, getting into organizing with Cobb and Paulding Counties for a new Silver Comet Trail map, and have joined the Historic High Country.

Additionally, website redesigns are still in the works but will likely remain a project for whoever takes up the role of Executive Director when Elrod’s time comes to a close.

Historic High Country is organization made up of several North Georgia counties who meet on a regular basis to promote various tourist locations around the region, allowing leaders to work together to increase tourism marketing and bringing in visitors to local attractions.

A second-tier goal is already being hit through the efforts of a Rockmart business owner and a student artist. It was expected that one of the goals to create areas where art is the central focus and attraction for visitors to Polk County would come over the next few years of the plan, but Elrod talked about the mural already being completed thanks to the work being done by artist Elizabeth Stone with the support of Stacey Lovvorn on the side of the building that houses The Perch on Marble and Brackett Cleaners.

One particular project that is hoped to help both small businesses and people who make the products sold within local shops is product branding. Elrod said that stickers are being made up – and should be done by the end of February – to allow for businesses to display that they have items within that are proudly made or grown right here in Polk County.

Elrod said the Chamber is expected to provide some new events later in the year with the hopes the COVID-19 pandemic will die down, including a wild game dinner and a potential tailgating experience for football fans.

The overall goals of the tourism development plan are to increase the number of visitors through a variety of marketing options, like putting together a tourism-focused magazine dedicated to Polk County attractions, the gateway signage project that has been on and off for the past several years and the new Silver Comet Trail map update, among others.

The soon-to-be outgoing Executive Director received thanks from the Commission for her hard work.

Especially from Commissioner Ray Carter, who thanked Elrod for the work she did during 2020 to help consolidate information about COVID-19 early and through the following months about the virus and what information was available at the time and commended her for being recognized at the state level.