October 2007
TVA Named Top Utility by Site Selection for Second Year
For the second consecutive year, Site Selection magazine has named TVA to its 2007 list of Top Utilities of the Year for outstanding economic development achievements in the Tennessee Valley.
The international magazine recognized TVA as one of the top utilities in North America based on total capital investment, investment per capita, total jobs created, and jobs per capita in the Valley, and for the development of new programs and services to support economic growth.
Site Selection officials said TVA and the other utilities in this year’s rankings competed for projects and jobs by adopting innovative strategies to best meet the needs of business and industry. The magazine cited TVA’s 2006 figures of $4.2 billion in investment that will create some 53,000 jobs across an 80,000-square-mile territory in seven southeastern states.
TVA plans for future power needs
Following the successful restart of Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant Unit 1 in May, the TVA board voted to complete Watts Bar Unit 2, taking another step to ensure that future industrial and residential energy demands in the Valley can be met. “Completing Watts Bar Unit 2 puts an existing asset to work for TVA customers and provides a clean, safe and reliable source of affordable power to the people of the Tennessee Valley,” said TVA Chairman Bill Sansom. “The studies clearly show that completing this unit is without a doubt TVA’s best option to help meet the region’s growing power needs.” The board also voted recently to submit an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a combined construction and operating license for two new nuclear units at the Bellefonte site in Alabama.
TVA’s Bunton named BREI president
Amy Bunton, General Manager of Business and Community Resources for TVA Economic Development, was elected president of Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI) at the group’s annual conference in Regina, Saskatchewan. BREI is a nonprofit professional association working to advance business retention and expansion as an economic development strategy for communities. It has over 500 members in the U.S., Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Bunton has been active in the organization for seven years and is well respected by its global members for her expertise in the field.
Consumer Connection promotes retail development
Retail is the second-largest industry sector in the U.S., in the number of establishments as well as employees. TVA Economic Development has been successfully working with power distributor customers, states, and local economic development agencies and community leaders to target new retail development and retain and grow existing businesses. Through the Consumer Connection program, local community leaders analyze their consumer potential, identify business expansion opportunities, and gain a better understanding of the needs of the retail sector. Chuck Marquis, Manager of TVA Business and Community Development, says, “Consumer Connection provides tools, including business information databases, that help a community begin to promote itself in a professional way to national retail interests. Not only does the program identify a community’s strengths and how they best meet the needs of potential new retail companies, but it also emphasizes strengthening relationships with existing businesses.” For more information or business data about the retail industry, please visit TVAed.com or contact Chuck Marquis at ctmarquis@tva.com.
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