Alabama Communities of
Excellence
Helping Smaller Communities
Plan, Grow and Prosper
Arturo S. Menefee
SERA-19 Health Meeting
August 3-4, 2006
Memphis, Tennessee
What is ACE?
Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE)
is
a non-profit corporation for the purpose of
utilizing the collective expertise
of its partners
to assist Alabama's smaller towns*
*Communities with populations
between 2,000 and 12,000
What is ACE?
A unique and powerful partnership with
the
expertise
public and private resources
commitment
. . . to help address many community
development needs
ACE Partners
Alabama Association of Regional
Councils
Alabama Cooperative Extension
System
Alabama Department of Agriculture
and Industries
Alabama Department of Economic
and Community Affairs
Alabama Development Office
Alabama Electric Cooperative
Alabama Gas Corporation
Alabama Historical Commission
Alabama Municipal Electric
Authority
Alabama Power Company
Auburn University, Truman
Pierce Institute
BellSouth
Chamber of Commerce
Association of Alabama
Regions Bank
Tennessee Valley Authority
United States Department
of Agriculture -- Rural
Development
University of Alabama,
Center for Economic
Development
ACE Structure
Board
↓
Paying Members
Associates
↓
Technical
Assistance
Community Team
↓
Local Team
ACE Helps Communities Focus On:
Leadership development
Strategic planning
Comprehensive planning
Commercial business development
Education enhancement
Infrastructure requirements
Health and human services
Tourism
Economic development
Recreation issues
Civic engagement
Community beautification
Quality of life
Competitive Application Process
The ACE application process opens once
a year (late Fall), and selections are
made in the Spring.
Cities that meet the population
requirements will receive an invitation to
submit an application.
(120 – cities in AL)
Competitive Application Process
ACE candidates are selected
based on:
information in the application
the community’s capacity to proceed
the community’s commitment
Three Phases of the ACE Process
The ACE process involves
three Phases which are
conducted in sequence
Phase I - Assessment
Introduces the Team Members and
Community Representatives
Familiarizes each with the community’s
strengths and needs
Lays the foundation for Phases II and III
Phase II – Leadership and Planning
Assures that the 2 most fundamental
community development building blocks
are established and comply with ACE
standards
STRATEGY
LEADERSHIP
Phase III - Implementation
Assures that the Community
Representatives:
Initiate a comprehensive land-use plan
Know how to access resources to achieve
their goals
Demonstrate commitment to moving forward
Have the capacity to move forward
Length of the ACE Process
The time it takes a given community to
move through the three ACE Phases
varies…
A community that already has an active leadership
program and a current strategic plan might move
through the phases in as little as a year, while one in
need of more assistance might require up to 3 years
(18 Months – Avg. Time)
ACE Certification
When the community completes the
three phases and achieves sufficient
success, it will be declared an:
Alabama Community of Excellence
ACE Re-Certification
Every ACE Certified Community must
be re-certified every three years
. . . based on progress in implementing
its plans and towards maintaining
ACE Standards
Eight Initial ACE Candidates
Brewton
Demopolis
Guin
Guntersville
Haleyville
Monroeville
Wetumpka*
Valley
* has since withdrawn
Six New Candidates in 2005
Atmore
Fayette
Gulf Shores
Heflin
Millbrook
Thomasville
Three New Candidates in 2006
Headland
Jackson
Jacksonville
Four Communities Certified in 2005
Demopolis
Guin
Haleyville
Monroeville
Three Communities Certified in 2006
Brewton
Guntersville
Valley
Each of these ACE graduates received:
$5,000 grant to be used for a priority
economic/community development
project specified in strategic plan
created during ACE three-phase
process
Framed certificate signed by
Governor Riley and ACE President
“Alabama Community of Excellence”
sign to be posted at city gateway
Contact Information
1-866-557-0007
www.alabamacommunitiesofexcellence.org
Alabama Communities of
Excellence
Arturo S. Menefee
Alabama Cooperative Extension System
334-844-2307
menefas@auburn.edu
Any Questions?????????
Thank You!!!