May 10, 2009
The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE)
program, a comprehensive three-phase approach to economic and
community development for cities with populations between 2,000
and 18,000, has selected five communities to participate in its
2009 Class: Arab, Eufaula, Foley, Hartselle and Montevallo.
“Communities with eligible populations must complete and submit
an application in order to be considered for the ACE program,”
said Joe Sumners, Director of Auburn University’s Economic &
Community Development Institute and current ACE President. “The
two main criteria used in selecting ACE participants are 1) the
level of local commitment to the ACE program, and 2) the
community’s capacity to support the ACE program.”
The ACE program consists of three phases: Phase I focuses on
Assessment, Phase II focuses on Leadership Development and
Strategic Planning, and Phase III focuses on Implementation and
Comprehensive Planning.
“Phase I is known as the assessment phase. During this time, a
comprehensive report card detailing community assets and
weaknesses is prepared and presented to the community along with
recommended strategy and actions,” Sumners said.
“During Phase II, the Leadership Development and Strategic
Planning component, each community must establish a leadership
development program, prepare an up-to-date strategic plan, and
identify a local ACE coordinator,” said Sumners.
According to Sumners, “Phase III is the Implementation and
Comprehensive Planning segment. Issues addressed during Phase
III include comprehensive planning, commercial business
development, education enhancement, infrastructure, health and
human services, retiree attraction, tourism, economic
development, and quality of life.”
Each of the three phases must be completed in order for the
community to graduate and be declared an “Alabama Community of
Excellence.”
Upon graduation, each community receives an “Alabama Community
of Excellence” sign to be posted at the city’s gateway, a grant
to be used for a priority economic and community development
project, and a certificate signed by the Governor and the
President of ACE. After three years, ACE designated communities
are eligible for recertification.
To maintain the Alabama Community of Excellence designation, a
community must be recertified every three years.
“Throughout each of these phases, ACE Partners work with each
community to successfully achieve their goals,” Sumners stated.
“The ACE program would not be possible without the funding, hard
work and participation of the ACE Partner organizations.”
ACE Partner organizations include: Alabama Association of
Regional Councils, Alabama Department of Economic and Community
Affairs (ADECA), Alabama Development Office (ADO), Alabama
Historical Commission, Alabama League of Municipalities, Alabama
Municipal Electric Authority, Alabama Power Company, Alacom
Finance, Auburn University Economic & Community Development
Institute, Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA),
Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood/Merchant Capital, PowerSouth Energy
Cooperative, Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of
Alabama Center for Economic Development, the University of West
Alabama, and USDA - Rural Development.
Fifteen communities have previously been certified as Alabama
Communities of Excellence: Atmore (2007), Brewton (2006),
Demopolis (2005), Fayette (2007), Guin (2005), Gulf Shores
(2007), Guntersville (2006), Haleyville (2005), Headland (2009),
Heflin (2007), Jackson (2008), Millbrook (2007), Monroeville
(2005), Thomasville (2007) and Valley (2006).
Having originally been certified in 2005, Demopolis, Guin,
Haleyville and Monroeville are eligible to be recertified and
are currently working through that process.
Eight other communities are currently working through Phases II
and III of the ACE program: Childersburg, Evergreen, Graysville,
Jacksonville, Leeds, Livingston, Tarrant and York.
