TVA Kicks Off Industrial Megasites Certification Program
March 18, 2004
To help improve industrial development and recruiting efforts, TVA is launching a new program that will identify and certify large industrial properties, or “megasites,” for potential automotive manufacturing or assembly plants.
County, city and regional economic development organizations within TVA’s service territory will submit potential industrial sites for consideration. The minimum acreage for a megasite is 700 to 1,000 contiguous and useable acres.
TVA will use the expertise of a site selection consultant to establish certification criteria and develop a process to evaluate megasites across the Tennessee Valley. McCallum Sweeney Consulting of Greenville, S.C., will serve as the consultant on the megasite certification project.
TVA’s economic development staff, distributors of TVA power, and economic development partners will market the megasites to potential automotive manufacturing or assembly plants.
The certification process will determine that a site will effectively and efficiently meet an automotive manufacturing or assembly plant’s needs. Certified sites will receive a comprehensive review. The entire certification process will be completed by the end of July 2004.
Submitted sites that do not meet certification criteria will receive recommendations on improvements needed to achieve certification or suggestions for alternative target markets or uses of the property.
“The industrial megasites certification program will help attract more jobs and improve the quality of life for the people in the region,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “McCallum Sweeney is an extremely credible site selection consultant, which has experience with automotive firms and is well-respected in economic development.”
TVA issued a request for information to more than 200 consultants and negotiated with the top 13 consultants capable of providing site evaluation services before selecting McCallum Sweeney.
In fiscal year 2003, TVA worked in partnership with various economic development organizations and partners to help attract or retain 47,000 jobs and leverage $1.58 billion in capital investment. TVA also provided more than $20.6 million in economic development loans.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.5 million consumers in seven southeastern states.
Media Contact:
Michelle Chang, Knoxville (865-632-8108) or TVA News Bureau, Knoxville (865-632-6000)
