Catoosa County will receive two grants totaling $14,000 from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Explore Georgia division, to expand and improve tourism, recreation and economic development.

One grant recipient, the 6th Cavalry Museum, will leverage their $8,000 award to fund a mural on the front of its building to connect visitors to the heart of historic Fort Oglethorpe and highlight the service of African Americans who served at the Army Post at Fort Oglethorpe. Dothan, Alabama artist Wes Hardin, who painted the first history mural at Gilbert-Stephenson Park in 2019, has been commissioned for the mural and will conduct artistic and education workshops for area art students as part of the grant.

Catoosa County’s Department of Parks and Recreation, another recipient, will apply their $6,000 award toward the enhancement of the Cloud Springs Canoe Launch on West Chickamauga Creek, to include two pavilions, barbecue grills, seating and waste bins. The work is scheduled to begin this fall and be completed in Spring 2021. 

The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Community Funding Program empowers communities to expand and improve their appeal as a destination for tourists and leverage tourism as a driver of economic impact. Explore Georgia Tourism Product Development resource teams evaluate a community’s potential for tourism growth and development through innovative and unique experiences. This year, Explore Georgia worked to provide more grants to more communities to assist in the tourism industry’s recovery from the impacts of COVID-19.

The Catoosa County Board of Commissioners would like to thank Chelsea Hoge, Kim Sawyer and Caitlin Conduff with Catoosa County Parks and Recreation, Keith Barclift with Catoosa County Economic Development Authority, and Christine McKeever with the 6th Cavalry Museum for their work to secure these grants. 

Catoosa County received two of the 13 grants awarded statewide this year.