Where did the idea of creating the Alabama Rural Action Commission originate?
The Alabama Rural Action Commission is modeled after the Black Belt Action Commission that was created by Governor Riley in 2004. The Black Belt Action Commission was formed to improve the quality of life in the 12 county Black Belt region of our state. The success of the action commission model led Governor Riley to create the Alabama Rural Action Commission as a statewide initiative.

When was the Alabama Rural Action Commission formed?
Governor Bob Riley created the Alabama Rural Action Commission in May 2007.

Is the Alabama Rural Action Commission comprised of all 67 Alabama counties?
Yes, Governor Riley created the Alabama Rural Action Commission as a statewide initiative. Alabama is a rural state and every county in our state has some parts that are rural.

I have a busy job and what can I do to support your efforts?
The ARAC is volunteer driven. We encourage you to sign up for a committee and attend a meeting. Your input is valuable as we set priorities and when we move into taking action.

Is the ARAC just another large state agency?
No, the ARAC has a very small staff of six people. The Alabama Rural Action Commission depends on citizens who are willing to volunteer in order to make a difference in their communities.

How did you determine what counties would form a specific region?
We worked closely with the 12 Alabama Regional Planning Commissions across the state and the ARAC Regional lines are very similar to the Regional Planning Commission's regions.

Why did you decide to regionalize the Commission?
We needed to form regions to help with organization and to make sure that each region is equally represented. In addition, the ARAC seeks to encourage cities and counties to work together to form regional partnerships and to set regional priorities.

Does the Alabama Rural Action Commission provide funding or grant opportunities?
No, the Alabama Rural Action Commission is designed to be a catalyst to bring people together to address key quality of life issues. Governor Riley has specifically said that he wants this commission to bring together organizations from the public and private sector to build new partnerships resulting in measurable results. By designing the commission this way, we are able to leverage existing resources instead of encouraging organizations to compete for funding opportunities.

Was state money used to create this website?
No, this website was developed without any state money. Ryan Roenigk donated his time and expertise to create this outstanding tool for ARAC. Our website is an example of the difference that citizens can make by volunteering their time to make a difference in our state.