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For more information, contact:Stacey Bryan, 866-557-0007 (toll –free)
City of Headland Designated an “Alabama Community of Excellence”
 The City of Headland has been designated as an “Alabama Community of Excellence” after successfully completing the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program, a comprehensive three-phase approach to economic and community development for cities with populations between 2,000 and 18,000.
The graduation ceremony took place Monday, May 4th during the Alabama League of Municipalities Annual Convention held in Montgomery. During the ceremony, the City of Headland was recognized as an Alabama Community of Excellence and presented with a $5,000 grant from ACE to be used in funding a priority economic and community development project.
This check was presented by Joe A. Sumners, ACE President and Director of Auburn’s Economic & Community Development Institute; Lamar Smith, ACE Director – Community Development, and Perry Roquemore, ACE Partner and Executive Director of Alabama League of Municipalities. Accepting the award on behalf of the City of Headland were: Mayor Ray Marler and ACE Local Coordinator Mary Claire Wilson.
“Communities with eligible populations must complete and submit an application in order to be considered for the ACE program,” said Joe Sumners, president of ACE. “The two main criteria used in selecting ACE participants are 1) the level of local commitment to the ACE program, and 2) the community’s capacity to support the ACE program.”
“We are so proud of Headland for successfully completing all three phases of the ACE program,” said Sumners. “Their dedication to community development should be commended.”
During the graduation ceremony, Sumners explained ACE’s three-phase approach.
“Phase I is known as the assessment phase. During this time, a comprehensive report card detailing community assets and weaknesses is prepared and presented to the community along with recommended strategy and actions,” Sumners said.
“During Phase II, the Leadership Development and Strategic Planning component, each community must establish a leadership development program, prepare an up-to-date strategic plan, and identify a local ACE coordinator,” said Sumners.
According to Sumners, “Phase III is the Implementation and Comprehensive Planning segment. Issues addressed during Phase III include comprehensive planning, commercial business development, education enhancement, infrastructure, health and human services, retiree attraction, tourism, economic development, and quality of life.”
To maintain the Alabama Community of Excellence designation, a community must be recertified every three years. Headland will be eligible for recertification in 2012.
“Throughout each of these phases, ACE Partners work with each community to successfully achieve their goals,” Sumners stated. “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 Regional Councils, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), Alabama Development Office (ADO), Alabama Historical Commission, Alabama League of Municipalities, Alabama Municipal Electric Authority, Alabama Power Company, Alacom Finance, Auburn University Economic & Community Development Institute, Economic Development Association of Alabama (EDAA), Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood/Merchant Capital, PowerSouth Energy Cooperative, Tennessee Valley Authority, the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, the University of West Alabama, and USDA - Rural Development.
Fifteen communities have previously been certified as Alabama Communities of Excellence: Atmore (2007), Brewton (2006), Demopolis (2005), Fayette (2007), Guin (2005), Gulf Shores (2007), Guntersville (2006), Haleyville (2005), Headland (2009), Heflin (2007), Jackson (2008), Millbrook (2007), Monroeville (2005), Thomasville (2007) and Valley (2006).
Having originally been certified in 2005, Demoplis, Guin, Haleyville and Monroeville are eligible to be recertified and are currently working through that process.
Eight other communities are currently working through Phases II and III of the ACE program: Childersburg, Evergreen, Graysville, Jacksonville, Leeds, Livingston, Tarrant and York.
In addition, the five new communities selected for ACE’s 2009 Class of participants were also announced. These communities are: Arab, Eufaula, Foley, Hartselle and Montevallo.
Headland Check: (pictured left to right) Stephanie Blankenship, Headland Economic Development; John Glover, Headland City Council; Benton Beasley, Headland City Council; John Mellown, Headland City Council; Mary Claire Wilson, Headland Local Coordinator; Kendrick Spurling, Headland City Council; Ray Marler, Mayor of Headland; Jody Singleton, Headland City Council; Joe A. Sumners, ACE President; Bill Parker, Headland Economic Development; Perry Roquemore Executive Director of Alabama League of Municipalities.
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