John Culpepper went on a reconnaissance mission to Atlanta earlier this month, looking for money to promote Civil War tourism in Northwest Georgia. He came back with his rucksack empty.
"There's no money," said Mr. Culpepper, Chickamauga city manager and the president of the Georgia Civil War Commission. "Nobody's got any money."
Fourteen months out from the 150th anniversary of the war's opening shots, Mr. Culpepper is looking to private groups to support the Tri-State Civil War 150th Commemoration Association and its mission of bringing tourists to the region.
"This is a coalition of folks pooling their resources to promote this area," Mr. Culpepper said.
So far the group has 14 partners, mainly chambers of commerce and tourism groups including Fort Oglethorpe, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Dalton, Walker and Gordon counties and Huntsville, Ala.
"Those armies didn't see state lines and we're not going to either," Mr. Culppepper said.
The list of partners includes two private businesses: Rock City and Flegal Insurance Inc.
Bob Stiles, chairman of the board and CEO of Rossville-based Flegal Insurance, said tourism is the "driving force" behind his support.
A self-described Civil War buff, Mr. Stiles said his support earned Flegal a spot on the group's Web site, www.civilwar150th.org.
"People who are able to see this may decide to settle here," he said. Mr. Stiles said the connection is even more clear for businesses such as hotels or attractions that stand to benefit directly from Civil War tourists.
Cindy Milligan, tourism director at the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association, said the entire region stands to benefit. She said it's up to organizations such as hers and the Tri-State Association to educate visitors about sites off the beaten path.
"We're all working together on these different pieces to feed the Civil War traveler," she said.