Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich has been recognized for his leadership and commitment to community development with the 2026 Outstanding ACE Mayor STAR Award from Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE).
Hellmich received the award Oct. 20 during the 2026 ACE Graduation and Awards Ceremony, hosted by the Alabama League of Municipalities at the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center.
The annual STAR Awards recognize individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting the ACE program and their communities. The Outstanding ACE Mayor Award honors mayors who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to the program’s principles.
Hellmich’s involvement with ACE dates back more than a decade. As a member of the Foley City Council, he worked alongside community leaders to help Foley earn its ACE designation in 2012. Today, he continues to build on that foundation through strategic planning, economic development, community engagement and efforts to improve quality of life.
The recognition comes as Foley experiences one of the most significant periods of growth in its history. According to recent U.S. Census estimates, Foley ranked as the nation’s 14th fastest-growing municipality among cities with populations of at least 20,000, growing nearly 8 percent from July 2024 to July 2025 and adding more than 10,000 residents since the 2020 Census.
Under Hellmich’s leadership and in partnership with the City Council, Foley has focused on planning ahead for that growth. In 2024, the city adopted its first five-year strategic plan, developed with extensive public input.
Foley has also made significant investments in infrastructure, including roads, drainage and sidewalks. The city commits approximately $1 million annually to sidewalk construction and has completed a nearly four-mile sidewalk network along Alabama 59.
Education remains another priority. Through the Foley Education Advisory Committee, established in 2022, the city contributes $300,000 annually to schools in the Foley feeder pattern, with matching funds from 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,” said Hellmich. “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.”
For more information about the program, visit Alabama Communities of Excellence.