ACE was created by the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 as part of a national network of federally funded Community Action Agencies (CAA’s) to administer various programs on the community level that assist people of low-income out of poverty conditions. ACE is a proud member of the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania (CAAP). The mission of CAAP is to connect Community Action across the state of Pennsylvania. Incorporated in 1965, ACE began with a budget of $430,000 as a grantee for the federal Head Start Program maintaining fiscal and administrative responsibility for services in Lackawanna, Pike, Susquehanna, and Wayne Counties.
ACE is a CAA authorized to administer funds received from federal, state, local, or private funding entities to assess, design, operate, finance, and oversee anti-poverty programs. ACE is intended to promote self-sufficiency and depends heavily on volunteer work, especially from the low-income community.