The U.S. 10K Classic will return in 2013 after a nearly three-year hiatus, but the popular Cobb County road race will be moving from its traditional Labor Day date to Memorial Day.

Race organizers announced Friday that the event, last held in 2010 before going on hiatus due to reduced sponsorship from the economic downturn, will make its return May 27, 2013.

“We’re excited about our new launch,” said race founder Don Whitney, the president of Smyrna-based Corporate Sports Unlimited. “We want to not only pick up where we left off, but make it an even better event on our new date on Memorial Day.”

The 6.2-mile race will also feature a new location — still to be determined — moving from the familiar course that traversed Cobb Parkway between Cumberland Mall and Six Flags White Water. That route had been used since the race’s inception in 1994.

Whitney said the location of the new course, and additional details about the race, will be announced sometime this fall. He also said the event will be dedicated to honoring military personnel, and their families, on its new Memorial Day date.

“We want to honor our military members serving in the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard and Air Force,” Whitney said. “We want to honor our troops for their service to our country and help those military members and their families in need.”

The U.S. 10K Classic will now serve as a kickoff to a new series of events to benefit the World Children’s Center. The 710-acre community, under construction in the west Georgia city of Tallapoosa, has been one of the race’s prime beneficiaries.

According to a press release posted on its website, the U.S. 10K Classic has raised approximately $5 million for 30 local children’s charities and has had an economic impact of $45 million on Cobb County.

In addition to its signature race, the 10K, the annual event has also included cycling, as well as wheelchair and inline skating races. An estimated 15,000 participants took part in the competitions in 2010.