Interview with Nancy Benziger Brown, October 18, 2017

Interview Summary

Nancy Benziger Brown, a former employee of the TVA, begins the interview by detailing how she was hired at the TVA. Subsequently, Brown describes the Town Lift program, which was a program to spur economic development in rural downtowns of the Tennessee Valley. Visits of foreign visitors to the TVA are recalled. The interviewee discusses her trip to the Philippines in order to implement TVA home efficiency practices. Brown's participation in a redevelopment program in Chattanooga, Tennessee is briefly mentioned. Next, Brown illustrates the Managing Energy and Resource Efficient Cities (MEREC) program. Aspects explored include funding, implementation and results. Interns in MEREC and their role are briefly touched on. Following this, Service Sector development and River Heritage initiatives, both with the intention of increasing economic development in the Tennessee Valley, are examined. The relocation of residents of the town of Clinchport, Virginia by the TVA is detailed. Brown reveals what she enjoyed the most about working for the TVA. To conclude the interview, Brown's final project at the TVA is considered, as well as an explanation of why Brown decided to leave the TVA.

Interview Keyword

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Town Lift program Managing Energy and Resource Efficient Cities (MEREC) Service Sector development River Heritage Clinchport (Va.) United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Community involvement

Interview LC Subject

Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Economic development Job creation China Philippines Tennessee River Virginia Floods Flood control

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.