The Alabama Communities of Excellence program announces an all new tool and a revamped website. Profiles of all 18 of our partner organizations, including information about their important connections to small towns, along with information about all ACE Towns, and links to over 100 resources useful to small towns across Alabama, provide a new way to connect with the brightest small communities around the state. The all-new ACE website is available at www.alabamacommunitiesofexcellence.org. This new online tool allows our 38 town graduates and current participants to manage their community profile, research potential useful tools for their towns and discover upcoming events from around Alabama. This online tool was made possible by a generous grant from the Alabama Association of RC&D Councils, with help from the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and all of our partner organizations.
Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) is a nonprofit organization created in 2002 for the purpose of utilizing the collective expertise of its partner organizations. Throughout the ACE process, ACE Partners work with each community to successfully achieve specific goals. 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 RC&D Councils; Alabama Association of Regional Councils, Alabama Department of Commerce; Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alabama League of Municipalities; Alabama Municipal Electric Authority; Alabama Power Company; Auburn University – Government and Economic Development Institute; Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood, Inc.; Information Transport Solutions, Inc.; Jackson Thornton and Company; PowerSouth Energy Cooperative; Regions Bank; Southeast Alabama Gas District; The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development and The University of West Alabama.
Thirty-two communities have previously been certified as Alabama Communities of Excellence and are located throughout Alabama. (Southeast Alabama): Eufaula, Evergreen, Headland, Alexander City and Valley; (Southwest Alabama): Atmore, Brewton, Demopolis, Elba, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, Jackson, Livingston, Monroeville, Saraland and Thomasville; (Central Alabama): Childersburg, Graysville, Helena, Millbrook, Leeds, and Montevallo; (North Alabama): Arab, Fayette, Guin, Guntersville, Haleyville, Hartselle, Heflin, Jacksonville and Rainsville. Currently, six additional communities are working through the process of becoming certified as ACE communities: Abbeville, Geneva, Jasper, Oneonta, Red Bay and Spanish Fort.