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The ACE program would not be possible without the leadership and financial support provided by our ACE Partners. Our ACE Partners are:
Alabama Association of Regional Councils
The Alabama Association of Regional Councils is composed of twelve Regional Councils/Regional Planning and Development Commissions. The Regional Councils are multi-county public agencies established under state enabling legislation in the period between 1963 through 1971 to serve the needs of local government. The original responsibilities included local planning assistance, regional planning studies, grant writing and grant management. The Regional Councils encompassed by the Appalachian Region were designated as Local Development Districts by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), and a number of the regions were designated as Economic Development Districts by the Economic Development Administration (EDA). A majority of the regional councils assumed the responsibility of Area Agencies on Aging under the Older Americans Act and implemented Older Worker Training Programs under Title V of the Older American Act. A number of the regional councils assumed responsibilities as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for transportation planning in designated metropolitan areas, and all of the regional councils have been designated as Rural Planning Organizations (RPO) by the Alabama Department of Transportation. A number of regional councils have assumed transit service delivery responsibilities with funding from the Federal Transit Administration. All of the regional councils have been funded to operate regional revolving loan funds for small business and industry. The Regional Councils have evolved and will continue to evolve to respond to the unique needs of their respective regions and local governments and to assist those local governments in responding to emerging State and Federal program requirements. To learn more about Alabama’s Regional Councils and their programs and services, please visit the Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC) website. The AARC website also provides links to the websites of the individual regional councils.
www.alarc.org
Alabama Municipal Electric Authority
PowerSouth Energy Cooperative
Alabama Power Company
The University of West Alabama
The University of West Alabama, one of the oldest universities in the Southeast, has for 175 years served as the educational and cultural heart of Alabama’s Black Belt region. UWA is a comprehensive state university, offering a broad range of academic programs leading to associate, bachelor, master and education specialist degrees. The University also supports myriad services to the business, government and education communities. UWA students from throughout the United States and across the world enjoy a diverse and stimulating learning environment in a close-knit, small-town atmosphere.
www.uwa.edu
ADECA
University of Alabama Center for Economic Development
The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UCED) provides technical assistance and applied research to economically distressed areas in the State of Alabama to enhance local economic development efforts that diversify the State’s economy and ensures positive growth.
Established in 1987 in partnership with Federal and State agencies, the Center has successfully continued to provide the direction and leadership to Alabama counties that enables them to expand and develop their economic growth. By creating the environment for economic development opportunities and growth, these Alabama communities, organizations and private firms are better positioned to support new and existing business as well as attract new investments and jobs.
The Center administers technical assistance and applied research in economic development efforts by developing and structuring programs that build local capacity; increase the elected and civic leadership base; increase tourism/recreation and entertainment; and provide a well-educated and prepared workforce. UCED’s work has simultaneously brought area leaders together which helped to create long-term community alliances for sustainable progress in towns all over the state while maintaining the sense of the small town existence.
UCED’s assistance varies depending on the needs of the community. Some typical services include:
- facilitating community/regional asset-based strategic planning
- facilitating discussions and developing plans for downtown revitalization
- supporting community efforts to promote tourism and recreation
- facilitating town meetings
- providing adult and youth leadership development training
- preparing feasibility studies
- assisting with industry related investments
- promoting, enhancing and cultivating community forestry programs
www.uaced.ua.edu
USDA – Rural Development
Alabama League of Municipalities
The Alabama League of Municipalities was established in 1935 and has served since that time as the recognized voice of the cities and towns of Alabama. Through the years, the League has grown to serve over 450 member municipalities representing over 99.7% of the urban population of the state.
Voluntary membership in the League brings officials of cities and towns together in a fellowship of public service which strengthens and guides municipal government in a progressive, responsible fashion.
The primary purpose of the League is to promote understanding of municipal government and administration in Alabama and thereby advance the welfare of the people of the state.
www.alalm.org
ALACOM Finance
Alacom Finance is a private, not -for-profit corporation working in the public interest to provide financing, management consultation, and related services to For-Profit Businesses in Alabama. Founded as Alabama Community Development Corporation in 1981, Alacom Finance is an economic development lender, certified by the federal government to provide Title V Loans. One of the Southeast's lending providers of economic development money through the SBA 504 Loan Program with total project financing exceeding one billion dollars since 1981. Alacom also offers expertise in many other programs and is known nationally for structuring innovative loan packages for businesses. Alacom provides services in all programs with the exception of the 504 Loan (Alabama only), nationwide. Some of the financial tools offered include:
- Packaging of 7(a) Guaranty Loans
- Secondary Market Assistance & Sales
- Export/Import Loans
- USDA Business & Industry Loans
- Special Purpose Financing
- Non Recourse Loan Assistance
- Economic Development Assistance
- Business Management Consulting
- Commercial Development
- Multi-Tenant Residential
- Purchase of Business Notes, Owner Held Notes, life insurance equity and one time settlements
www.alacom.com
Tennessee Valley Authority
For more than seven decades, the Tennessee Valley Authority has improved the quality of life in the Tennessee Valley, making the region a better place to live, work, and raise a family. As the nation’s largest public power provider, TVA touches millions of lives through three key areas:
- Energy – provides low-cost, reliable electric power that helps businesses and families prosper. TVA sells power to 158 local distributors that serve 9 million people and 700,000 businesses and industries in the seven-state TVA service area. It covers almost all of Tennessee and parts of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Virginia. TVA also sells power to about 59 large industrial customers and federal installations.
- Environmental stewardship – helps the TVA region thrive and enables residents to enjoy a higher quality of life by managing the Tennessee River and adjoining lands to provide a better environment for our children and grandchildren. Through its river system operations, TVA provides public benefits including navigation, flood damage reduction, water supply, and recreation.
- Economic development – builds partnerships to stimulate sustainable economic growth. TVA helps companies and communities attract investments that bring quality jobs to our region and keep them here.
www.tva.com
EDAA
The Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA) is a membership-based organization focused on promoting economic growth in Alabama. Economic development professionals throughout the state, along with individuals and companies in related economic development fields, work together with the EDAA staff and board of directors to help positively influence state legislation and industrial growth within the state.
With a mission “to educate, network and positively impact economic development in Alabama” and the vision “to provide the leadership to help Alabama be the premier state for economic development”, EDAA currently has over 500 members, including directors and staff members from local economic development associations, as well as other individuals involved in economic growth in Alabama.
Since its inception, EDAA has been pivotal in the definition and passing of key economic development legislation. The association has also been a leader in the creation of educational opportunities, including co-sponsoring Auburn University’s Intensive Economic Development Training Course, being instrumental in the establishment of the university’s economic development graduate program, and
implementing programs for its members and for community leaders, including the new CLT (Community Leadership Training) program and annual EDAA conferences.
©Economic Development Association of Alabama
www.edaa.org
Alabama Historical Commission
Auburn University Economic and Community Development Institute
With the mission of promoting economic prosperity and improved quality of life for communities throughout Alabama, ECDI has four main goals which also make up the Institute’s key program and service areas:
- Education and Training: Improve the practice of economic and community development in Alabama through targeted educational programs
- Research and Communication: Conduct research and disseminate findings on issues related to economic and community development in Alabama
- Connections and Partnerships: Facilitate communication, coordination, and partnerships among Alabama’s economic development community, Extension, and Auburn University
- Consultation and Engagement: Help build and strengthen economic and community capacity in Alabama communities through a) leadership development, b) civic engagement, c) strategic planning, and d) economic development
www.auburn.edu/ecdi
Alabama Development Office
Most commonly known as “the” state agency for economic development, the Alabama Development Office (ADO) has one mission – simply to create jobs in Alabama. Because they are vital in supplying prospective companies, ADO works to build relationship with site consultants and keep them up-to-date on information about Alabama. In addition, ADO also works with the economic development professionals across the State.
ADO is divided into several divisions, including:
- Business Development – Charged with identifying prospects to grow and broaden Alabama’s industry base, encouraging and promoting foreign manufacturing investment in the state, supporting expansion and retention of existing businesses, and marketing Alabama to the world.
- International Trade – Charged with establishing working relationships with companies who might export and other professionals, and building knowledge that result in lucrative international business.
- Small Business Advocacy – Charged with fostering the growth of Alabama’s small operations by giving them a variety of assistance. Also works closely with the Small Business Development Consortium’s eleven Small Business Development Centers housed at universities throughout the State and ADECA’s Office of Minority Business Enterprise.
www.AlabamaUSA.org
Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood
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