TVA’s Economic Development makes a difference in the TN Valley
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press | Dave Flessner | November 10, 2021
Original Article Title: Economic investment grows to record high in Tennessee Valley during pandemic
Despite the coronavirus pandemic — or perhaps because of it — the Tennessee Valley is attracting a record number of jobs from new and expanding businesses.
In the 12 months ended Sept. 30, the Tennessee Valley Authority worked with state and local governments and chambers of commerce to recruit 270 major business projects with plans to collectively invest more than $8.8 billion in new plants, offices and equipment.
The new and expanding businesses project they will create nearly 81,000 jobs in the Tennessee Valley — the highest number logged in a single year by TVA’s economic development department.
The record job creation doesn’t even include Ford Motor Co.’s plans for West Tennessee, which were announced after TVA closed its books for economic development for fiscal year 2021. Ford and SK Innovation in late September announced plans to build the $5.6 billion Blue Oval City to make both batteries and battery-powered F-series pickup trucks at the West Tennessee Industrial Park in Stanton, Tennessee.