Hellmich Named Outstanding ACE Mayor

Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich was recognized with the 2026 Outstanding ACE Mayor Star Award from the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program. The award recognizes ACE participants who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The category honors a mayor who has shown exceptional leadership while participating in the program. According to recent U.S. Census estimates, Foley ranked as the 14th-fastest-growing municipality in the nation among cities with populations of at least 20,000, growing nearly 8% from July 2024 to July 2025 and adding more than 10,000 residents since the 2020 census. Under Hellmich’s leadership, Foley has focused on planning for that growth. In 2024, the city adopted its first five-year strategic plan following extensive public input. The city has also invested heavily in infrastructure, including roads, drainage and sidewalks, committing approximately $1 million a year to sidewalk construction and completing a nearly 4-mi. sidewalk network along Highway 59.