What is ACE?

Alabama Communities of Alabama Communities of ExcellenceExcellence

Helping Smaller CommunitiesHelping Smaller Communities Plan, Grow and Prosper Plan, Grow and Prosper

Arturo S. MenefeeArturo S. Menefee

SERA-19 Health Meeting SERA-19 Health Meeting August 3-4, 2006 August 3-4, 2006

Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee

What is ACE?What is ACE?

Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) isis

a non-profit corporation for the purpose ofa non-profit corporation for the purpose ofutilizing the collective expertise utilizing the collective expertise

of its partnersof its partnersto assist Alabama's smaller towns* to assist Alabama's smaller towns*

*Communities with populations

between 2,000 and 12,000

What is ACE?What is ACE?

A unique and powerful partnership with the

expertise

public and private resources

commitment

. . . to help address many community development needs

ACE PartnersACE PartnersAlabama Association of Regional CouncilsAlabama Cooperative Extension SystemAlabama Department of Agriculture and IndustriesAlabama Department of Economic and Community AffairsAlabama Development OfficeAlabama Electric CooperativeAlabama Gas CorporationAlabama Historical CommissionAlabama Municipal Electric AuthorityAlabama Power Company

Auburn University, Truman Pierce InstituteBellSouthChamber of Commerce Association of AlabamaRegions BankTennessee Valley AuthorityUnited States Department of Agriculture -- Rural DevelopmentUniversity of Alabama, Center for Economic Development

ACE Structure

Board↓

Paying Members

Associates↓

Technical Assistance

Community Team↓

Local Team

ACE Helps Communities Focus On: ACE Helps Communities Focus On:

Leadership developmentStrategic planningComprehensive planningCommercial business developmentEducation enhancementInfrastructure requirementsHealth and human servicesTourismEconomic development Recreation issuesCivic engagementCommunity beautificationQuality of life

Competitive Application ProcessCompetitive 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 ProcessCompetitive 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 ProcessThree Phases of the ACE Process

The ACE process involves The ACE process involves three Phases which are three Phases which are conducted in sequenceconducted in sequence

Phase I - AssessmentPhase 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 PlanningPhase II – Leadership and Planning

Assures that the 2 most fundamental community development building blocks

are established and comply with ACE standards

STRATEGYSTRATEGY

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP

Phase III - ImplementationPhase 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 ProcessLength of the ACE Process

The time it takes a given community to The time it takes a given community to move through the three ACE Phases move through the three ACE Phases varies…varies…

A community that already has an active leadership A community that already has an active leadership program and a current strategic plan might move program and a current strategic plan might move

through the phases in as little as a year, while one in through the phases in as little as a year, while one in need of more assistance might require up to 3 years need of more assistance might require up to 3 years

(18 Months – Avg. Time)(18 Months – Avg. Time)

ACE CertificationACE Certification

Alabama Community Alabama Community of Excellenceof Excellence

Alabama Community Alabama Community of Excellenceof Excellence

When the community When the community completes the completes the three phasesthree phases and and achieves sufficient achieves sufficient

successsuccess, it will be declared an:, it will be declared an:

ACE ACE ReRe-Certification-Certification

Every ACE Certified Community must Every ACE Certified Community must be be re-certified every three yearsre-certified every three years

. . . based on . . . based on progress in implementing progress in implementing its plansits plans and towards maintaining and towards maintaining ACEACE Standards Standards

Eight Initial ACE CandidatesEight Initial ACE Candidates

BrewtonBrewton

DemopolisDemopolis

GuinGuin

GuntersvilleGuntersville

HaleyvilleHaleyville

MonroevilleMonroeville

Wetumpka* Wetumpka*

ValleyValley

* has since withdrawn* has since withdrawn

Six New Candidates in 2005Six New Candidates in 2005

Atmore

Fayette

Gulf Shores

Heflin

Millbrook

Thomasville

Three New Candidates in 2006Three New Candidates in 2006

HeadlandJacksonJacksonville

Four Communities Certified in 2005Four Communities Certified in 2005

DemopolisDemopolis

GuinGuin

HaleyvilleHaleyville

MonroevilleMonroeville

Three Communities Certified in 2006Three Communities Certified in 2006

BrewtonBrewton

GuntersvilleGuntersville

ValleyValley

Each of these ACE graduates received: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 InformationContact Information

1-866-557-0007

www.alabamacommunitiesofexcellence.org

Alabama Communities of Alabama Communities of ExcellenceExcellence

Arturo S. MenefeeArturo S. MenefeeAlabama Cooperative Extension SystemAlabama Cooperative Extension System

[email protected]@auburn.edu

Any Questions?????????

Thank You!!!