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!!!