The Webster Progress-Times

Communities must be prepared and united in order to promote economic development, according to an official with the nation's largest public power producer.

Phil Scharre, manager of community development for the Tennessee Valley Authority, made the remarks during his keynote address at the April 28 annual membership meeting of the Natchez Trace Electric Power Association in Eupora. NTEPA is a TVA customer.

Scharre said communities must be prepared by having good infrastructure and good leadership that speaks in a united voice.

"Have your act together," he said.

He encouraged communities to work on keeping existing industries, and to work regionally and cooperatively with their neighbors. He noted that the TVA region still lags behind the national average in income and that its vitality depends on being prosperous.

"The challenges facing rural communities and TVA are great for economic development," he said. "Working together, we can meet those challenges."

Scharre asserted that the current TVA Board, of which Tupelo's Glenn McCullough is chairman, is more committed to economic development that any he has seen in his 23 years with the power distributor.

Referring to Valley trends which include the loss of almost 100,000 textile industry jobs that substantially impacted rural areas, Scharre said having workers educated in math and science continues to grow in importance.

TVA's Economic Development Group can help, he said, by providing strategic planning assistance for communities and community organizations, advice and financial assistance to small business owners, administration and financial assistance to communities and business leaders working to retain and add high-quality jobs, and identifying prospective new employers.

In order to help them compete for future jobs, Scharre said TVA will enhance its support for communities in transition by revising a loan program for disadvantaged counties. He also said TVA, public power distributors and economic development partners will improve support for existing industry, and will strengthen their outreach and marketing efforts.