Hopkinsville, KY -- The “Almost Nashville, KY” region in Southwest Kentucky, an economic development partnership between Christian, Todd and Trigg Counties, has been chosen to participate in the prestigious Valley Targeted and Prepared (TaP) Community Program.
The Valley TaP Program will feature a planning process that includes an in-depth evaluation of “Almost Nashville, KY’s” resources and strengths to target and recruit specific industry segments, which could result in additional jobs and investments for the region. The program also will help “Almost Nashville, KY” identify key targeted sectors and actively recruit them.
TVA has retained the services of the well respected Boyette Levy consultants head-quartered in Atlanta, GA to implement the program. Boyette Levy is an economic development, public policy and communication strategy firm that helps communities, organizations and governments accomplish their strategic aims.
“The Valley TaP planning process gives communities the tools they need to enhance their competitiveness for new jobs and investments,” said Del Boyette of Boyette Levy. “The communities selected to participate in the program this year have already demonstrated strong local leadership and a sound commitment to supporting economic and community development efforts.”
There will be eight steps in the TaP Valley process.
1. Secure buy-in.
2. Conduct a leadership audit and make assessments related to the existing economic development structure.
3. Perform a comprehensive analysis of the community/region’s economic strengths and weaknesses.
4. Identify the community/region’s core competencies and areas of development.
5. Assess the fit with certain attractive industry sectors and determine up to three target industries for the community/region.
6. Identify up to ten target companies for each community/region.
7. Develop and present an Economic Development Strategy to TVA ED and the community/region.
8. Set periodic checkpoints and measuring tools to assess success of the strategy.
The process of developing and implementing the plan will begin in February.
Eston Glover, President of Pennyrile Electric and the Chairman of the Hopkinsville-Christian County Economic Development Council said, “I am very excited about the inclusion of our regional partnership, ‘Almost Nashville, KY’, in TVA’s TaP program. This is a great opportunity for our region and will provide the tools for us to grow our economic development efforts in this region. I commend the leadership of Christian, Todd, and Trigg counties for recognizing a need, and aggressively pursuing this opportunity.”
“Valley communities that completed the planning process offered by The Valley TaP Program have been very pleased with the assistance it has provided,”said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “We believe ‘Almost Nashville, KY’ will also enjoy great benefits with their economic development efforts as a result of this program.”
Almost Nashville, KY is a regional economic development partnership between Todd, Trigg, and Christian Counties. The three Kentucky counties border Tennessee and lie within an hour’s drive of Nashville.
