Alabama Communities of Excellence Helping Smaller Communities Plan

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 Auburn University, Truman Pierce Institute Bell. South Chamber of Commerce Association of Alabama Regions Bank Tennessee Valley Authority United States Department of Agriculture -- Rural Development University of

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 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