Toccoa Receives Grant for Tugaloo Bend Project

Toccoa is one of 14 communities that will receive part of $64,000 in grant monies for projects that promote tourism in Georgia.

Georgia Tourism offers this grant to communities who participated in the department’s Tourism Product Development Resource Team program.

The Tourism Product Development Resource Team program works to evaluate a community’s potential for tourism growth and development through innovative and unique experiences based on a community’s local culture and heritage.

“We are thrilled with this year’s tourism product development grant awardees,” said Cindy Eidson, director of Tourism Product Development with the Georgia Department of Economic Development. “Funding is the greatest need for these projects and with this program we are able to assist these communities with implementing new product that will drive visitors to their communities and create a sustainable tourism industry.”

The Stephens County Foundation, which manages the Tugaloo Corridor and the Tugaloo Bend Heritage site will receive a $5,000 grant from Georgia Tourism.

Last November, the Toccoa City Commission voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Stephens County Foundation so the group could apply for a tourism grant to build an outdoor kitchen at the Tugaloo Bend Heritage site.

The site, located on Yonah Dam Road, features hiking trails, cabins, a pavilion with picnic tables, and an outdoor classroom. Plans are to build the outdoor kitchen in the pavilion area.

Total cost of the outdoor kitchen, according to Foundation member Joe Ferguson is around $13,000.

Ferguson said they hope to have the outdoor kitchen built in time for the summer season.