ST. LOUIS, April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On the first anniversary of the country's worst environmental disaster, a group of concerned St. Louis residents announced that they will once again spend a week leading a caravan of support across the Gulf Coast. The Gulf Caravan will raise awareness, spend money at small businesses, and promote the Gulf region July 11-16, 2011.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110419/CG85884)

The team led the first Gulf Caravan last year in August traveling over 1,500 miles and generating over 7,000 media stories including national attention. The 2nd Annual Caravan will depart St. Louis on July 11, 2011 and will spend seven days visiting small businesses in communities along the Gulf.

Organizer Dennis Gorg said, "Last year's trip was so moving and incredible. We found so many businesses empty and they had lost hope. We brought to them so much promise ... promise that the nation hasn't forgotten the Gulf. Today, while tourism has improved, a recent Texas A&M study reports that the region should expect a 30% return to normalcy this year, 70% next year. This just simply isn't soon enough for so many small businesses. If we can excel tourism up by bringing additional attention to the Gulf, encouraging vacationers to visit and spend money – it will be a big help - We all can become tourists with a purpose."

The caravan will depart on July 11 from St. Louis, concluding in Panama City Beach, FL.  Caravan organizers are calling for people and groups to join up for the trip or join along the way. Already several groups have expressed an interest adding to the current list of about twenty.

Route information and details about the stops will be determined soon and available on the groups' website at gulfcaravan.com.

Caravan participants will blog and post Facebook messages along the way.  Media are invited to accompany or meet the caravan at any stop on the route.

SOURCE gulfcaravan.com