Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich has received the 2026 Outstanding ACE Mayor Star Award from the Alabama Communities of Excellence program, recognizing his leadership and contributions to the community.

Hellmich received the award Oct. 20 during the 2026 ACE Graduation and Award Ceremony hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities at the Arthur J. Outlaw Convention Center in Mobile.

The award honors mayors participating in the ACE program who demonstrate exceptional leadership and go above and beyond their responsibilities.

Hellmich’s involvement with ACE dates back more than a decade. As a Foley City Council member, he worked with community leaders to help the city earn its ACE designation in 2012. He continues to apply the program’s principles of leadership, planning, economic development, community engagement and quality of life as Foley navigates a period of significant growth.

Recent U.S. Census estimates ranked Foley as the 14th fastest-growing municipality in the nation among cities with populations of at least 20,000. The city grew nearly 8% from July 2024 to July 2025 and has added more than 10,000 residents since the 2020 Census.

Under Hellmich’s leadership and in partnership with the City Council, Foley has prioritized preparing for that growth. In 2024, the city adopted its first five-year strategic plan following extensive public input. Infrastructure investments have included roads, drainage and sidewalks, with the city committing approximately $1 million annually to sidewalk construction. A nearly four-mile sidewalk network along Alabama 59 has also been completed.

Education has remained another focus. Through the Foley Education Advisory Committee, established in 2022, the city contributes $300,000 annually to schools in the Foley feeder pattern, with the contribution matched by Baldwin County Public Schools. Foley High School has also earned statewide recognition as a School of Excellence.

“I’m honored to receive this award, but it truly belongs to everyone who has worked to make Foley the community it is today,” Hellmich said. “Our City Council, our employees, our schools, our businesses and our residents have all played a part. The ACE program helped us build a strong foundation years ago, and those same principles continue to guide us as we plan for Foley’s future and work to make sure our growth improves the quality of life for everyone who calls Foley home.”

More information about the Alabama Communities of Excellence program is available at www.alabamacommunitiesofexcellence.org.