TVA Establishes New Community Development Program
August 10, 2006
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- TVA today launched The Valley Targeted and Prepared Community Program (The Valley TaP Program) to strengthen its economic and community development efforts.
The program, created by TVA, offers communities throughout the TVA service area access to an innovative strategic planning process to identify key target industries and actively recruit those industries. It was designed and will be administered by Boyette Levy, an Atlanta firm that provides strategic advice and communications support in the areas of economic and community development.
“A community must know and be prepared to market its assets to best meet the needs of prospective companies,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “Boyette Levy has both the experience and expertise necessary to facilitate selected Tennessee Valley community leaders through this valuable new TaP program.”
Communities will have an opportunity to submit an application, and three to four communities in the Valley will be chosen by this fall to participate in The Valley TaP Program. The planning process will include an in-depth evaluation of a community’s resources and strengths to target and recruit specific industry segments, which could result in additional jobs and investments.
“This program is truly unique in the economic development business,” said Del Boyette of Boyette Levy. “We believe participating communities will come away with the economic development tools, knowledge and understanding to move to the next level in competing for new jobs and investments.”
Applications for The Valley TaP Program have been sent to city, county and regional economic development organizations in the TVA service area. Communities interested in participating in the program should complete the application and return it by Aug. 25 to Tracy King Sharp, Boyette Levy, 100 Colony Square, 1175 Peachtree St. N.E., Suite 1660, Atlanta, GA, 30361.
A team of economic development professionals will review and evaluate the applications. Judges will look for communities that demonstrate strong community leadership, have economic development funds available and have infrastructure in place to support existing businesses and recruit new industries.
Following review of the applications, selected communities will be notified in mid- September, with the planning process complete by early 2007. In subsequent years, an additional three to four communities will be chosen annually to participate in The Valley TaP Program.
TVA helps make the Tennessee Valley a better place to live and work through economic development partnerships with distributor customers of TVA power, regional entities, state agencies and local communities to recruit new industries and provide resources to help existing businesses grow. In fiscal year 2005, TVA’s economic development efforts helped attract or retain 57,000 Valley jobs and generate more than $3.6 billion in capital investment. Economic development is a major part of TVA’s core mission. For more information about economic development in the Tennessee Valley, visit TVAed.com.
TVA is the nation’s largest public power provider and is completely self-financed with revenues of $7.8 billion in 2005. TVA provides power to large industries and 158 power distributors that serve approximately 8.6 million consumers in seven southeastern states. TVA also manages the Tennessee River and its tributaries to provide multiple benefits, including flood damage reduction, navigation, water quality and recreation.
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TVA News Bureau, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000
