Linda Little will be leaving the executive director position of the Celina Economic Development Corp. on Friday. She has been the director for two years.

“I’m going to pursue one of my dreams,” Little said about her leaving, “I want to be a full-time writer.”

She said she will also be pursuing freelance work as a marketing consultant, writing articles offering marketing support for small businesses and communities.

“I really am ready to try my own thing,” she said. “I have a lot of ideas and I am excited.”

Little will be joining the Celina Chamber of Commerce, and will continue her involvement with the Celina Rotary Club.

Among the accomplishments Little achieved during her term as the executive director were the establishment of a formal economic development program, including setting up an office downtown, creation of a Web site, and developing marketing materials and a campaign to promote Celina’s opportunities to the business world.

She also began a public relations campaign promoting Celina in the various media outlets.

She helped to identify obstacles to attracting commercial growth and worked with city officials to remove those obstacles and plan for ‘shovel’ ready land to be available.

“Although it has taken two years, there is land on Preston Road ready and available today,” she said. “Plans for development are in the works for three, potentially four, new developments ranging from office to retail.”

Celina is ready to grow, Little said.

“Overall, I think the results by the EDC have established Celina as a community that is growing, and commercial and retail developers and businesses are paying attention,” she said “Celina is poised to be the next growth phenomenon, but we’re not there yet.”

She added that the driving force behind residential growth is population.

“Celina’s population will increase dramatically over the next 15 years,” Little said.

City Manager Jason Gray said Little will be sorely missed.

“Linda has a great set of talents and a great ability to work with the community,” Gray said.

Gray said Little had talked with him about her plans to do freelance work.

“I wouldn’t be surprised at all if we end up using her in that capacity in some way, shape, or form,” he said.