Financial Resources

TVA Economic Development offers a number of financing services and options to help new and existing companies with the financial resources they need to locate or expand in the Tennessee Valley.

Economic Development Funds

TVA’s Economic Development Funds were established to stimulate economic development and leverage capital investment in the TVA power service area. TVA uses them to promote economic expansion and encourage job creation. Committed to ensuring that all businesses have access to the resources they need, TVA dedicates a portion of its loan funds to support minority business development and special opportunities communities.

The loan funds are primarily open to manufacturing companies and other institutions in the Valley, including TVA power customers, communities, and nonprofit economic development corporations. Loans can be used to fund new industrial plant expansions or retentions, or industrial park development.

Read a fact sheet about Economic Development Funds (PDF, 43 kb).

Special Opportunities Counties Fund

This $16 million revolving loan fund assists the Valley’s most economically distressed counties. Loans are available for buildings, equipment, real estate, industrial parks, and building development. Read more.

Enhanced Growth Credit

Substantial credits on power bills may be available to companies expanding in the Tennessee Valley. Eligibility is determined by SIC code, type of power used, and kilowatt usage. Read more (PDF, 128 kb).

Southern Appalachian Fund

The Southern Appalachian Fund is a $12.5 million venture capital fund formed to provide equity capital and operational assistance to qualifying businesses in southern Appalachia. The Fund invests in small companies located in low-income census tracts in Kentucky, Tennessee, and the Appalachian counties of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Read more at Southern Appalachian Fund.

Meritus Ventures

Meritus Ventures L.P. is a $36.4 million venture capital fund that makes equity investments in private, expansion-stage companies in predominantly rural areas of central and southern Appalachia. It targets small businesses in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Arkansas, and may consider investments in rural areas outside central and southern Appalachia. Meritus also provides operational assistance to its portfolio companies. Read more at Meritus Ventures.

 

Read an equal opportunity summary that outlines your responsibilities as a recipient of federal funds from TVA.