TVA Extends Business Partnership with Orange Grove Center

June 1, 2011

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority has extended a partnership with Chattanooga's Orange Grove Center that will provide secure document shredding for the utility.

"This agreement fulfills an important business need for TVA at an excellent value, while helping support Orange Grove's inspiring work," said Russ Steward, vice president for TVA Supply Chain. "This is an opportunity to strengthen the partnership between two organizations that hold strongly to their service-based missions."

Orange Grove is a nonprofit organization that serves adults and children with developmental disabilities. The organization provides a broad range of services, including waste recycling and paper shredding, in the Chattanooga area.

TVA is committed to working with small, disadvantaged and local businesses and services when they deliver strong value, Steward said.

Under the five-year contract, Orange Grove will transport materials from TVA facilities in secure bins to Orange Grove's secured processing site, where the materials are shredded and baled before being recycled into new paper products. Bins will be placed at TVA sites in Knoxville; Chattanooga; Spring City, Tenn.; and Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Orange Grove is certified by the National Association for Information Destruction and the Secured Document Alliance. Its other clients include the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the city of Chattanooga.

"The partnership between Orange Grove Center and TVA allows us to meet our goal of employing and offering vocational opportunities to people with disabilities while meeting an important business need for TVA," said Tera Roberts, director of adult services for Orange Grove.

Orange Grove also supplies recycling services for TVA.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no tax money and makes no profits,also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.

Media Contact:

Barbara Martocci, Knoxville, (865) 632-8632
TVA Media Relations, Knoxville, (865) 632-6000

TVA Newsroom