ETOWAH, Tenn. — The Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association this week received an AT&T Foundation Grant of $2,600 to print a popular map of the three-county area served by the tourist organization.

“We are very excited to participate in this organization,” said Mary Stewart Lewis, regional director of external affairs for AT&T, as she handed over a check Tuesday. She said the company will give more than $100 million in grants over the next four years.

Linda Caldwell, executive director of Tennessee Overhill, said the organization gives out more than 20,000 maps of McMinn, Monroe and Polk counties each year. She said the grant will cover printing for this year.

Ms. Caldwell said the donation is especially welcome at a time when the nonprofit organization is anticipating reduced funding from foundations, business and governments.

“This is a great help,” Ms. Caldwell said. “We must remain on target. This is not a time to back down but a time to bear down.”

The organization promotes tourism in the three-county area and fields thousands of contacts a year from visitors. Tennessee Overhill also owns the Old Line Railroad and works with the Tennessee Valley Railroad to offer scenic tours in the Hiwassee Gorge.

Ms. Caldwell thanked county mayors in Polk, McMinn and Monroe along with state Sen. Dewayne Bunch, R-Cleveland, for helping obtain the grant.

Polk Mayor Mike Stinnett was contacted by a former AT&T employee about the grant possibility and worked with McMinn and Monroe counties to apply for a larger total.

In a news release, AT&T Tennessee President Gregg Morton said, “We are pleased to support the mission and great work of the Tennessee Overhill Heritage Association and are proud to join with the many public and private partners to support (their) efforts.”

Tech Talk