PACE was founded in 1982 to provide essential services to the Greater New Bedford Area and promote self-sufficiency for its residents. Community meetings were held to form a new agency and create a 21-member Board of Directors. Now, PACE is a thriving non-profit Community Action Agency with more than 10 programs and 150 staff members. It has a budget of 72 million dollars, made up of funding from the city, state, federal government, private foundations, and individual contributors.