TVA Rural Development
Preparing communities for economic growth
TVA Rural Development focuses on supporting rural and economically distressed communities across the Tennessee Valley. We work in close partnership with other federal and state organizations that focus on rural development, including:
- USDA Rural Development
- The Economic Development Administration
- The Appalachian Regional Commission
- The Delta Regional Authority.
We offer training to economic developers in leadership development, industrial product preparedness (sites and buildings), planning, and project assistance.
Special Opportunities Counties
TVA offers some grant assistance and special programming for Special Opportunities Counties (SOC). Only counties with the lowest per capita personal income, the highest percentage of residents below the poverty level, and the highest average annual unemployment rates are eligible for the SOC program. The list of eligible counties is updated annually. Read more about the program.
Appalachian Regional Commission Projects
TVA serves as the administrator for many projects funded by the Appalachian Regional Commission in the Tennessee Valley. These projects result in increased investment in infrastructure and capacity-building initiatives for Valley communities. Read more about the Commission's work at the ARC website.
Contact us
For questions regarding TVA’s Rural Development program, please contact your regional development specialist or Rachel Beaty Crickmar, rbcrickmar@tva.com.