Professor/Economic Developer
Alex
Avila
Connecting communities, workforce, funding, and opportunity.
ACES helps cities, institutions, and community partners turn vision into strategy, and strategy into measurable impact.
in State and Federal Funding
32 organizations, labor groups, collaborations, and cities
Building Economic Solutions That Move Communities Forward
Avila Community Economic Solutions helps cities, institutions, labor groups, businesses, and community organizations align funding, workforce pathways, partnerships, and long-term economic mobility strategies.
Portfolio
FOCUS:
Economic Development Strategy & Implementation
ACES supports cities, counties, public agencies, and community-based partners with practical economic development strategies that move from planning to action. Our work includes assessing local economic conditions, identifying growth sectors, aligning public-private partnerships, and helping communities implement strategic plans tied to business growth, workforce development, infrastructure, housing, and long-term regional prosperity.
Business Retention, Expansion & Attraction
ACES helps communities strengthen their local economy by supporting existing businesses while positioning the region to attract new investment. Services include business outreach, stakeholder engagement, industry analysis, site readiness support, marketing recommendations, and strategies to grow priority sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, manufacturing, clean technology, and emerging industries.
Workforce Development & Talent Pipeline Alignment
ACES works at the intersection of education, labor, employers, and government to build workforce pathways that respond to real economic needs. We help align schools, colleges, training providers, unions, businesses, and public agencies around shared goals that prepare residents for quality jobs, support employers, and create stronger pathways into high-demand careers.
Public-Private Partnership Development
ACES specializes in building trusted relationships across cities, businesses, developers, labor partners, nonprofits, philanthropy, and state and regional agencies. We help convene stakeholders, develop shared priorities, strengthen investor engagement, and create partnership structures that support economic growth, community benefit, and long-term sustainability.
Grant Strategy, Funding Alignment & Resource Development
ACES assists communities in identifying, organizing, and pursuing funding opportunities that support economic mobility, infrastructure, workforce development, housing, small business growth, and regional planning. Our services include funding research, grant strategy, proposal development, partnership alignment, and helping organizations position projects for public, private, philanthropic, and state-level investment.
Marketing, Communications & Community Engagement
ACES helps communities clearly communicate their economic development vision to residents, businesses, investors, elected officials, and regional partners. Services include website language, marketing materials, public-facing reports, meeting agendas, presentation decks, community engagement strategies, and messaging that makes complex economic priorities clear, credible, and compelling.
Administrative, Board & Organizational Support
ACES provides executive-level support for economic development organizations, city departments, and public-private initiatives that need additional capacity. This includes board coordination, agenda development, project management, stakeholder updates, strategic plan tracking, investor outreach, confidentiality-sensitive communications, and support for day-to-day implementation of economic development priorities.