Ace Hardware has signed a deal to sponsor WeatherBug's hurricane tracking and reporting feature, reports Brandweek.

The deal will have Ace sponsoring WeatherBug's Hurricane Command Center, a sponsorship expected to generate significant exposure for the hardware retailer as people check for severe weather. Ace will place a banner ad below the site's hurricane coverage listing items to have on-hand in case of a hurricane, as well as a store locator.

The sponsorship achieves two goals for Ace: An expanded online presence, and a sharp focus on its local presence. Ace has said online will get more attention as it seeks to expand the possibilities of its marketing dollars.