Polk Tourism Committee members have committed to providing funds for a bicycle self-help tool stand at the new Rockmart Silver Comet Trail building.

“It will be a great addition to the facility and further promote Rockmart as a destination for the Silver Comet Trail,” said Chair Jean Laltrello.

The Rockmart Downtown Business Alliance has discussed participation in this project.

GRITS is also working on a design for a Polk County Silver Comet Trail t-shirt, which will be sold countywide and at both chamber offices.

Application forms are ready for the Labor Day Ride on September 3. Rides of various lengths are planned for an expected 300 plus participants.

In addition, the Rockmart Cultural Arts Center is scheduled to have a special Silver Comet Trail gallery show in September and October.

It will feature all mediums of art created from sites on the Silver Comet Trail. Artists from Paulding and Cobb counties have been invited to participate by submitting art or photographs of the trail, towns or sites that riders might view.

Greg Gray gave a power point presentation during the July meeting of the Tourism Committee. He focused on the current status of historical sites and outlined his proposal for a brochure/map of the 200+ cemeteries.

“The historic Van Wert Church is the oldest standing building in Polk,” he said. “Famous evangelist Sam P. Jones started his preaching career there.”

Gray pointed out that a two-day skirmish was fought on the church grounds during the Civil War and that the land could be developed into a battlefield park.

“We could bring tourism to Polk County through our history and heritage,” he said.

He also discussed his work with the University of West Georgia Heritage Textile Trail group. They are focusing on the development of a corridor of museum sites and the redevelopment of cities utilizing buildings of the former cotton industry.

Ideas were proposed on how the Tourism Committee can market Polk County while partnering with the group at UWG.

According to Laltrello, the Bluegrass Association European Christian Net-work continues to film local bluegrass music sites for presentation on PBS channels in Alabama and Georgia.

The next Bluegrass Festival is planned for Aug. 10 at The Rock, located near Rockmart.