| The Alabama Communities of
Excellence (ACE) program is a comprehensive approach to economic and
community development for cities with populations between 2,000 and
12,000. ACE links communities to the private sector, government agencies
and universities. ACE partner organizations plan and prepare for a
more vibrant future.
In Phase I,
the ACE team meets with representatives from the candidate community
over a period of a day to two days, tours the community, and performs
a detailed assessment to identify the community's strengths and
weaknesses. The team evaluates the community's characteristics by
comparing it to ACE Community Standards. The team members collaborate
on the results and jointly provide their findings and recommendations
to the community at a subsequent meeting.
The candidate community may or may not
elect to proceed to the second phase. If so, the community must
agree to address the recommendations of Phase I and commit to undertaking
the activities of Phase II. To affirm this commitment, the community
must submit a letter to the ACE Board (Chairman) requesting to continue
with the process and naming an ACE Coordinator - the point of contact
for the team and advocate for the local community. The community
must also create or name a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that
can apply for grants and other funds to implement some of the projects
identified by the community in the final two Phases.
In Phase II, the community focuses on
leadership development and on writing or updating a strategic plan
that maps out a vision and specific actions for the community to
take to achieve that vision. ACE Team members provide assistance
to the community in the areas of leadership and strategic planning
activities and provide guidance to assure that the results meet
ACE Community Standards.
In the final phase, the community initiates
activities necessary to realize the vision established in Phase
II, which may include initiatives related to physical infrastructure,
business development, education, health, and other quality of life
issues. This phase necessarily includes land use planning and funding
initiatives.
When the candidate community complete
the three phases of the ACE Program and achieves a level of success
that approaches ACE Community Standards, it will be declared as
an Alabama Community of Excellence.
To maintain its status, each Alabama Community
of Excellence must be recertified every three years. Recertification
is based on the ACE Community's progress in implementing its plans
and its progress towards approaching ACE Community Standards.
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