Alabama Communities of Excellence

​The Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program uses a comprehensive, three-phase approach to assist participating communities in planning and preparing for a more vibrant future.  Throughout each of these phases, ACE partners from the private sector, government agencies and universities work with each community to successfully achieve its goals.  Currently 46 Alabama communities are participating in the ACE program.  There are 39 designated ACE communities with 7 additional communities currently working towards their designation.  

Created in 2002 as a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation organized for the purpose of utilizing the collective expertise of its partner organizations, ACE provides participants with a “one stop shopping” type of experience—community development programs and tools needed to insure long term success found through one organization.  The ACE program targets smaller communities with populations ranging from 2,000 to 18,000.  A competitive application process is used to select participant communities based on the level of local commitment to the ACE program and the community’s capacity to complete the rigorous 3-phase ACE program.  UACED is one of the partnering agencies guiding the Alabama Communities of Excellence.

ACE Meetings and Events

ACE Community Reunion

ACE Walkability Workshop

ACE application workshop for mayors.

ACE Community Reunion: Lisa Miller (AMEA), Bobby Avant (Fayette Local Coordinator), Sidney Hoover (ACE Executive Director)

Arturo Menefee presenting to ACE Community Reunion attendees.

2016 Star Award Recipients Left to Right: (Mike Easterwood, Carrie Banks, Yancey Lovelace, Nathan Willingham, Herman Lehman)

ACE Community Reunion attendees