Legal Definitions - Tennessee Valley Authority

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is a government-owned corporation that was created in 1933. Its main goal is to promote economic growth in the Tennessee Valley region through a unified program of resource development.

The TVA is responsible for a variety of activities, including:

• Flood control
• Navigation development
• Electric-power production
• Fertilizer development
• Recreation improvement
• Forestry-and-wildlife development

The TVA's power program is financially self-supporting, which means it pays for itself. However, its other programs are primarily financed by congressional appropriations.

For example, the TVA might build a dam to control flooding in a certain area. This would help protect homes and businesses from damage caused by floods. Or, the TVA might develop a new fertilizer that helps crops grow better in the Tennessee Valley region. This would help farmers produce more food and make more money.