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Commercial, $50K grant to promote eastern Alabama [The Anniston Star, Ala.](Anniston Star (AL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Oct. 31--OXFORD -- A $50,000 grant and a television commercial set to air next year will help promote tourism in eastern Alabama, officials announced Thursday. Lee Sentell, director of the Alabama Department of Tourism, made the announcement at a press conference in Oxford, alongside tourism officials from throughout eastern Alabama. "This is a place that has great resources, great natural resources for the whole family, and spectacular scenery," Sentell said. The department filmed the commercial to showcase outdoor activities in eight eastern Alabama counties. The spot will include scenes from Talladega Superspeedway, Coldwater Mountain, Cheaha State Park, Desoto Caverns Park, the Chattahoochee River and courses on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. According to a press release from the department, the commercial was made with support from Retirement Systems of Alabama. It will air in the Atlanta area as well as 50 Raycom-owned stations throughout the country. (Raycom is a media company controlled by RSA.) The Tourism Department awarded the grant to Tour East Alabama, a group promoting recreational activities in Calhoun, Chambers, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties. Mary Patchunka-Smith, tourism director for the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce, said the grant will pay for marketing and promotion of the eight-county area. Also speaking during Thursday's press conference were Talladega Superspeedway chairman Grant Lynch, Rep. Steve Hurst, R-Munford and Sen. Del Marsh, R-Anniston. Marsh said the commercial will not only promote the area's natural resources, but its vibrant businesses along main streets throughout the region, too. "I'm convinced that if people see this and see what we have to offer, it will bring tourism dollars into the area and that is so important," he said. Thursday's event came a day after tourism officials met with 50 representatives from across the eight-county area to discuss ways to promote eastern Alabama. Hurst thanked everyone at the meeting for their hard work. "We want to tell you all that our heart is with you as for tourism growth, and whatever we can do, we will do," he said. ___ (c)2014 The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.) Visit The Anniston Star (Anniston, Ala.) at www.annistonstar.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |