Franklin was recently designated as a Platinum level sustainable community in the TVA Valley Sustainable Communities Program. The City submitted a detailed inventory of municipal sustainability efforts as well as initiatives occurring throughout the community. Franklin is the sixth community to achieve the Platinum designation, the highest distinction.
The program offers three levels of qualification based on a points system that allows participating communities to choose the portions of the program they believe will be most beneficial to their efforts. Communities earn points in 15 categories by implementing specific policies and practices that contribute to overall sustainability, with an emphasis on those components that directly impact economic development efforts and/or the success of existing businesses in the community. Qualification levels are Platinum, Gold and Silver. Communities can also earn points in the Innovation category for activities that do not fall under the 15 other categories.
The Valley Sustainable Communities Program, initiated by TVA Economic Development, provides a framework and structure to assist communities in making the commitment necessary to demonstrate the role sustainability plays in their economic development efforts. The program offers communities assistance in developing and implementing sustainability initiatives that not only serve to make the community more competitive, but also support TVA’s environmental policy. Boyette Strategic Advisors (Boyette) was engaged by TVA Economic Development to develop and assist in the management of the program.
In 2013, Franklin was a pilot community in the TVA Valley Sustainable Communities Program and was designated at the Gold level.