The Alabama Association of Regional Councils (AARC) is a public non-profit organization that represents the municipalities and counties in the State of Alabama through the membership of the individual Regional Councils. The mission of the AARC is to expand and strengthen the capabilities of the Regional Councils to serve local governments and the citizens of Alabama. Working through the AARC, the Regional Councils form statewide task forces to accomplish missions of statewide importance. AARC’s offices are located in Montgomery.
There are twelve Regional Councils within the State of Alabama. The individual Regional Councils are referred to by a number of different names, such as regional commission, regional planning commission, regional planning and development commission, or regional council of governments. The generic term “Regional Council” is used to refer to all twelve. Authorized by the legislature in 1935, the various Regional Councils were formed at different times over the years, in different forms with different service areas. Their powers and duties evolved through subsequent legislation in 1963, 1969 and 1973. In 1985, the twelve Regional Councils in existence at the time were ratified and confirmed by Act No. 85-757 of the Legislature of Alabama. The current twelve Regional Councils and the regions they serve are as follows.
Region 1 (NACOLG): The Northwest Alabama Regional Council of Governments serves five counties in northwest Alabama. These counties are Colbert, Franklin, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston counties. NACOLG’s offices are located in Muscle Shoals. | www.nacolg.com
Director: Keith Jones | Phone number: 256-389-0500
Region 2 (WARC): The West Alabama Regional Commission serves seven counties in west central Alabama. These counties are Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Pickens and Tuscaloosa counties. WARC’s offices are located in Northport. | www.warc.info
Director: Dennis Stripling | Phone number: 205-333-2990
Region 3 (RPCGB): The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham serves six counties in central Alabama. These counties are Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties. RPCGB’s offices are located in Birmingham. | www.rpcgb.org
Director: Charles Ball | Phone number: 205-251-8139
Region 4 (EARPDC): The East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission serves ten counties in east central Alabama. These counties are Calhoun, Chambers, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Etowah, Randolph, Talladega and Tallapoosa counties. EARPDC’s offices are located in Anniston. | www.earpdc.org
Director: Lori Corley | Phone number: 205-237-6741
Region 5 (SCADC): The South Central Alabama Development Commission serves six counties in south central and southeast Alabama. These counties are Bullock, Butler, Crenshaw, Lowndes, Macon and Pike counties. SCADC’s offices are located in Montgomery. | scadc.net
Director: Tyson Howard | Phone number: 334-244-6903
Region 6 (ATRC): The Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission serves ten counties in west central Alabama. These counties are Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Marengo, Monroe, Perry, Sumter, Washington and Wilcox counties. ATRC’s offices are located in Camden. | www.atrcregion6.org
Director: John Clyde Riggs | Phone number: 334-682-4234
Region 7 (SEARPDC): The Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission serves seven counties in southeast Alabama. These counties are Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties. SEARPDC’s offices are located in Dothan. | www.searpdc.org
Director: Scott Farmer | Phone number: 334-794-4093
Region 8 (SARPC): The South Alabama Regional Planning Commission serves three counties in south coastal Alabama. These counties are Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties. SARPC’s offices are located in Mobile. | www.sarpc.org
Director: John F. (Rickey) Rhodes | Phone number: 251-433-6541
Region 9 (CARPDC): The Central Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission serves three counties in central Alabama. These counties are Autauga, Elmore and Montgomery counties. CARPDC’s offices are located in Montgomery. | www.carpdc.com
Director: Greg Clark | Phone number: 334-262-4300
Region 10 (LRCOG): The Lee-Russell Council of Governments serves two counties in east central Alabama. These counties are Lee and Russell counties. LRCOG’s offices are located in Opelika. | www.lrcog.com
Director: Lisa Sandt | Phone number: 334-749-5264
Region 11 (NARCOG): The North-central Alabama Regional Council of Governments serves three counties in north central Alabama. These counties are Cullman, Lawrence and Morgan counties. NARCOG’s offices are located in Decatur. | www.narcog.org
Director: Robby Cantrell | Phone number: 256-355-4515
Region 12 (TARCOG): The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments serves five counties in northeast Alabama. These counties are DeKalb, Jackson, Limestone, Madison and Marshall counties. TARCOG’s offices are located in Huntsville. | www.tarcog.us
Director: Michelle G. Jordan | Phone number: 256-830-0818