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What is ACE?

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

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What is ACE?

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  1. Alabama Communities of ExcellenceHelping Smaller Communities Plan, Grow and ProsperArturo S. MenefeeSERA-19 Health Meeting August 3-4, 2006 Memphis, Tennessee

  2. 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

  3. What is ACE? A unique and powerful partnership with the • expertise • public and private resources • commitment . . . to help address many community development needs

  4. ACE Partners • 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 • 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

  5. ACE Structure Board↓Paying Members Associates↓Technical Assistance Community Team↓Local Team

  6. 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

  7. 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)

  8. Competitive Application Process ACE candidates are selected based on: • information in the application • the community’s capacity to proceed • the community’s commitment

  9. Three Phases of the ACE Process The ACE process involves three Phases which are conducted in sequence

  10. 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

  11. STRATEGY LEADERSHIP Phase II – Leadership and Planning Assures that the 2 most fundamental community development building blocks are established and comply with ACE standards

  12. 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

  13. 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)

  14. ACE Certification Alabama Community of Excellence When the community completes the three phases and achieves sufficient success, it will be declared an:

  15. 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

  16. Eight Initial ACE Candidates • Brewton • Demopolis • Guin • Guntersville • Haleyville • Monroeville • Wetumpka* • Valley * has since withdrawn

  17. Six New Candidates in 2005 • Atmore • Fayette • Gulf Shores • Heflin • Millbrook • Thomasville

  18. Three New Candidates in 2006 • Headland • Jackson • Jacksonville

  19. Four Communities Certified in 2005 • Demopolis • Guin • Haleyville • Monroeville

  20. Three Communities Certified in 2006 • Brewton • Guntersville • Valley

  21. 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

  22. Contact Information 1-866-557-0007 www.alabamacommunitiesofexcellence.org

  23. Alabama Communities of ExcellenceArturo S. MenefeeAlabama Cooperative Extension System334-844-2307menefas@auburn.edu

  24. Any Questions????????? Thank You!!!

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