NASHVILLE— For the ninth consecutive year, Site Selection magazine has ranked the Tennessee Valley Authority among its Top 10 North American utilities for leadership in economic development.
In making their selection, the magazine’s editors noted TVA’s key role in partnering with local power companies and regional, state and local economic development agencies to attract or retain more than 52,000 jobs and $5 billion in capital investment to its seven-state service area during 2013.
“To be one of only three utilities to achieve this recognition for nine straight years is a testament to the partnerships TVA’s Economic Development team has formed with
John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development.
communities and agencies across the area. We are focusing our collective resources on keeping the Valley in the forefront as a most desirable place to locate and grow companies,” said John Bradley, TVA senior vice president of Economic Development.
Major companies announcing new facilities or expansions across the TVA region in 2013 included Yokohama Tire in West Point, Miss.; PTC Seamless Tube in Hopkinsville, Ken.; Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama in Huntsville, Ala.; ARAMARK and UBS in Nashville, Tenn., Calsonic Kansei North America in Lewisburg, Shelbyville and Smyrna, Tenn; and Nike in Memphis, Tenn.
In addition, Site Selection editors highlighted the redesign of TVAsites.com and TVA’s work in developing sites for data centers, along with advanced manufacturing facilities, transportation manufacturing and food processing. To date, a total of 23 data center sites have been designated as “ready for development” across the Valley, thanks in part to TVA’s efforts.
The new Valley Sustainable Communities Program launched in 2013 was also called out for its innovative approach. Designed to help communities catalogue and market their sustainable assets, the program designated 13 communities as platinum, gold or silver sustainable communities within the first year of operation.
TVA also actively supports rural communities and fosters retail development in the region.
“This year’s top utilities not only continue to turn in the numbers year after year, but continue to invest in doing more and in innovative new approaches to partnering with both companies and communities,” said Adam Bruns, Site Selection managing editor.
“In other words, despite the regulatory concerns, prices of fuel and a host of other mitigating factors, they mean what they say when it comes to their mission to serve.”
Adam Bruns, Site Selection managing editor
TVA’s Economic Development team is continuing its mission of service to increase development and make the region a better and more prosperous place. In the first ten months of its 2014 fiscal year, they have already helped attract and retain more than 52,000 jobs and nearly $8 billion in capital investment.
Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers corporate real estate and economic development information to more than 49,000 global subscribers. Its editorial mission is to publish information for expansion planning decision-makers — CEOs, corporate real estate executive and facility planners, human resource managers and consultants to corporations. The full Top Utilities article appears on the Site Selection website at www.siteselection.com.
MEDIA RELEASE/TVA Public Relations/ Jim Hopson
