Poplar Grove Middle and Johnson Elementary awarded TVA STEM grants to help fund projects
The Tennessee Valley Authority recently awarded grants to two Franklin Special District schools for new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) resources.
Johnson Elementary School and Poplar Grove Middle School each received $3,500 to assist with education projects. Both schools used the funds to launch new programs for students this year, officials said.
'We know STEM teachers across the region are inspiring students to become the workforce of the future and that's why it's so important for TVA to continue to support this grant program,' TVA President and CEO Jeff Lyash said in a release announcing the grants. 'Providing additional resources to schools helps provide essential hands-on learning programs that equip students with skills that will help them be successful in whatever they choose to do in life.'
The agency's competitive STEM classroom grant program is operated in partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network, managed by the Battelle organization.
The program received 647 grant applications this year, and 342 were selected for funding, officials noted.
At Johnson Elementary, grant funds were used to purchase composting materials for a new gardening program under the direction of library media specialist Dea Peach.
Using hands-on activities, students will learn how organic waste can be transformed into nutrient-rich soil, reinforcing science concepts in an engaging way, Peach said of the program.
'We are excited to teach our students the importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility,' she said. 'This contribution from TVA will go a long way in helping us teach our students that these lifelong habits can contribute to a more sustainable future.'
At Poplar Grove Middle, the grant funds were used to purchase educational materials to help guide students as they create and launch their own businesses, officials said.
'Students are learning core business principles and entrepreneurial skills that will help them work as their own boss,' said STEM teacher Deb Shuler. 'Using this grant-funded curriculum, students learn the difference between services and products and the difference between digital and physical goods and services.'
Through the program, students in grades 5-8 were given a goal of presenting a product at the Franklin Special District's Performing Arts Center fundraiser. Teams then went on to compete against other schools and student-led business concepts in a statewide competition earlier this spring.
One of the teams, from sixth grade, not only placed but won in the manufacturing category at the Tennessee Invention Convention, held on March 26 at Middle Tennessee State University. The team has been invited to participate in the national competition this summer, officials said.
TVA's school grants were awarded through a competitive process, and preference was given to grant applications that explored TVA's primary areas of focus: environment, energy, economic development, and community problem-solving.
Any school that receives power from a local power company served by TVA is eligible to apply for the annual program.
TVA has provided nearly $8 million in STEM grants supporting over 730,000 students since 2018, the agency said.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TVA awards two Middle Tennessee schools $3,500 STEM grants
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
E&E News
11 hours ago
- E&E News
House approves TVA transparency, gas cylinder bills
House lawmakers passed two bills with wide bipartisan support Monday, with one designed to increase transparency at the Tennessee Valley Authority and the other strengthening safety standards for imported gas cylinders. H.R. 1373, the 'Tennessee Valley Authority Transparency Act,' would require the federally owned utility to hold public hearings at least four times a year. The bill passed by voice vote. '[TVA] holds most of its meetings behind closed doors, I believe Americans are sick and tired of these backroom dealings,' said Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), a lead sponsor of the legislation. 'This bill requires all board meetings be held in public and for TVA to provide at least seven days notice so people know when and where the meetings occur.' Advertisement The legislation continues House lawmakers' push to make the public utility more transparent in its dealings and finances. Earlier this year, the House passed a bill to increase financial reporting requirements for the authority.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Entrepreneurial Center, Rescue Squad to expand with new funding
May 30—The Morgan County Legislative Delegation, the Morgan County Rescue Squad, and the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center will receive more funding after a local bill was passed May 14, the final day of the legislative session. House Bill 581, sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, provides for the redistribution of in-lieu-of-tax payments in Morgan County from the Tennessee Valley Authority. It will roughly double the amount the Rescue Squad previously received, and the E-Center will receive in-lieu-of-tax funding for the first time. The local law takes effect Oct. 1. "We wanted to fund something that would grow revenue, and so we're moving that last percentage of the part that we delegate to the Entrepreneurial Center so that they can expand what they're doing around the county in different locations, not just in Decatur," Collins said. With the funding, the E-Center wants to open a location in Hartselle, the Rescue Squad plans to begin construction of a new station, and the legislative delegation plans to acquire a larger office space. "Our goal is to build a new station on the property that was donated and paid for by the county," Rescue Squad Chief Danny Kelso said. TVA makes in-lieu-of-tax payments each month because it is exempt from paying taxes as a government entity. The TVA pays out 5% of its gross profits from power sales each year to the states within its jurisdiction. Law dictates that the amount paid out to the counties exist in separate "pots." The state must split 75% of the payments it receives among the TVA-covered counties. An additional 3% is allocated to these counties per legislation from 2006. The section of the Alabama code dealing with these payments has changed several times to clarify wording and redistribute the money. Collins said HB581 allows for greater transparency about how TVA funding is being distributed within the county. "The main reason for working on that bill right now is it's very confusing how the language is. ... It's convoluted," Collins said. "Confusing is the best word, and we couldn't even understand it." In fiscal 2024, Morgan County received a total of $13.9 million in TVA in-lieu-of-tax funds. The "pot" referenced in the bill — the 3% increase from 2006 — amounted to $503,137.82. Julie Reeves, chief administrative officer of the Morgan County Commission, said that the amount the county receives varies greatly year to year, making it difficult to predict exact amounts for allocation. However, Reeves said fiscal 2025 has trended roughly 6% less than the previous year. If the trend continues, the amount the bill will redistribute starting with fiscal 2026 could total roughly $470,000. The Legislative Delegation will receive the largest portion of this money. HB581 increased its funding from 40% to 45%. Collins said this increase will help provide a larger office space for the delegation. The Rescue Squad will now receive 9% of the funds. In previous years, the squad received between $20,000 and $25,000. Rescue Squad Senior Board Member Tony Weikert said estimates for future funding have been closer to $45,000. The new station will be built on a 3-acre property on Mill Road that the Morgan County Commission helped the squad acquire. "Our station is out of date and not up to code," Kelso said. "It was built in the 1960s, and we've outgrown it." The Rescue Squad wants to break ground by the end of this year or early next year, Weikert said. He hopes a newer station will help the Rescue Squad appear more professional and attract more volunteers. After paying for the building, Kelso said funding would go to updating equipment. As a volunteer organization, Weikert said, the Rescue Squad didn't have any permanent funding to rely on. "We exist off of donations and annual requests from the city and the county and other places, but none of that is guaranteed money because you have to ask for it every year," Weikert said, emphasizing the difference the TVA funding will make. Weikert said he has been talking with state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur, about increasing the squad's funding for about a year. "Arthur Orr has always been a champion for us," he said. "... If it hadn't been for Arthur Orr, we wouldn't have any dedicated funding." A major change that HB581 makes from previous law is that the Decatur-Morgan County Entrepreneurial Center will now receive funding from the TVA payments. The E-Center could receive about $47,000 based on the fiscal 2025 payment estimates. "The thought of the delegation was: This is promoting small business job creation for Morgan County, and that's certainly a good thing that we wanted to support," Orr said. John Joseph, the executive director for the E-Center, said conversations have begun with Hartselle residents about adding a satellite office there. "Hartselle is a very creative, innovative community," Joseph said. "We would absolutely like to partner with them to deliver something that benefits their entrepreneurs and their innovators." Joseph said the E-Center will meet with Hartselle residents and review the services offered to determine the community's greatest need. "A lot depends on if there's additional funding that can come from other places or whether we need to work with what we have," Joseph said. The E-Center has developed connections with Hartselle through its CEO (Creating Entrepreneurial Opportunities) Program, which provides local high school students with real-life business experience. Collins is thankful that HB581 passed. The Alabama Legislature's 2025 session concluded with a Senate filibuster from Senators Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, and Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham. Collins said "the last day was very contentious in the Senate, and (Orr) was able to get both of our local bills on the calendar and through the Senate so that we could pass those bills this year," Collins said. HB581 passed in the House on April 29 and in Senate on May 14. — or 256-340-2437
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
TVA asking Jackson County residents for input on proposed Pumped Storage Hydro project
JACKSON COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) — Soon, Jackson County residents will have the opportunity to give their input on a proposed Pumped Storage Hydro project. On June 12, TVA will host a public meeting from 6 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2025, at Pisgah High School located at 60 Metcalf Street, Pisgah, Alabama, 35765. The Pumped Storage Hydro, or PSH, stores energy by pumping water to a higher elevation and releasing it back through turbines when energy demand is high. TVA currently operates a PSH facility near Chattanooga, Tenn., the 1,700-megawatt Raccoon Mountain. The public is encouraged to provide input on TVA's Pumped Storage Hydropower Draft Environmental Impact Statement, either at the public meeting, online or through the mail. You can find the DEIS on the TVA website. 'All comments received, including names and addresses, will become part of the administrative record and will be available for public inspection,' TVA said. You can submit comments on the DEIS in person at the public meeting or via email to nepa@ TVA said that any written comments should be sent to this address: Tennessee Valley Authority, ATTN: Elizabeth Smith, NEPA Specialist, 400 West Summit Hill Drive, WT-11D, Knoxville, TN 37902. The public can provide feedback on the four options for the project below: TVA would not develop or expand PSH facilities at any of the project sites. TVA would continue to operate the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH with no changes to current operations. TVA would not develop or expand PSH facilities at any of the project sites. TVA would continue to operate the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH with no changes to current operations. A new PSH located at Widows Creek, near Stevenson and Fabius, Alabama with an energy generation capacity ranging from 1,200-megawatt (MW) up to 1,600 MW. An 800-MW expansion of the existing Raccoon Mountain PSH, located near Chattanooga, Tennessee. DEIS comments must be received or postmarked no later than July 14, 2025. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
