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Celina looks golden down the road
By Brian Bearden, bbearden@acnpapers.com
No, Disney’s not coming. Neither is the tollway. And, yet, the folks wearing orange at the last stop in northern Collin County don’t expect to be lonely.
Celina business leaders project that eventually more than 300,000 could be living in their city.
“Our Mayor Jim Lewis says, ‘We are open for business. Come grow with us,’ ” said Celina Economic Development executive director Corbett Howard, who gets excited. The former mayor was speaking to a Collin County pro-business conservative Lincoln Society lunch gathering in Allen this week. “We believe the future is bright.”
Howard said, “The Power, Passion and the Glory,’ an entire documentary was made just on the Celina Bobcats football team and narrated by Pat Summerall. How many cities can say that? What a terrific documentary on a great football program?”
Howard sounds like an energized football coach himself, leading the team out of the tunnel to play, when it comes to preaching about Celina.
“At our build out here in what I call the Platinum Corridor, Celina will be a city of 325,000 to 330,000,” Howard said. “Celina is the crown jewel of Collin County. You can’t go any farther north in Collin County than Celina. We are the last city before you get to Grayson County.”
Don’t expect Celina to add 300,000 plus overnight whether the turf is named Golden Corridor or Platinum. Howard said Celina wants planned growth, and the city already has tax abatements, sales tax agreements, a Freeport exemption ordinance and a philosophy of growth in place.
According to Howard’s numbers, Celina at 90 square miles is bigger than Plano (72 sq. miles) and Frisco (78 sq. miles). Only McKinney (114 sq. miles) will be bigger in land size.
“In 1987, Frisco was Celina today,” Howard said. “We say ‘Celina by choice.’ Once people see what we have in Celina, they will be saying that, too.”
Celina is the choice for the home of broadcaster Craig James’ family.
Why would a corporation move to Celina? Howard is quick to respond:
“Celina to D/FW Airport is 40 minutes. …
“Stonebriar brings in a billion a year into Frisco, the next spot for a mall like that will be in Celina. …
“We have 700,000 acres ready for the next major employment center. …
“The Upper Trinity River Regional Water District already has more reservoir capacity and is a brand new utility. Water is not an issue. The new Lake Ralph Hall is already on the books. …
“We have a great sister city in Prosper. They have already determined they want to be a large lot, less dense bedroom community because of their land size. What a great neighbor to have. …
“The potential sits in Celina. … Celina is just a great place to live.”
Former Plano Mayor Jeran Akers started last week as the new CEO and president of the Celina Chamber of Commerce.
“We are signing up new members already,” Akers said. In the last week, the Celina Chamber Facebook page has added many new friends. Judging by that, many now “like” Celina. The Chamber’s Breakfast on the Run meets at 7:30 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month.
Howard, who ran against Collin County Commissioner Joe Jaynes, said Celina has a good team is in place.
“Our city manager Jason Gray spent eight years working in Frisco for George Purefoy,” Howard said. “Imagine how much you would learn from him in eight years. That will be so valuable to us in Celina.”
Howard said Celina will continue attracting top talent. Collin College already has a 75-acre campus location picked out for specialized job training. And, the rumors everyone’s heard about Disney moving in were not true.
More information:
www.celinaedc.com
celinatowncenter.net
celinachamber.org
celinaisd.com
celina-tx.gov
ppgthemovie.com
ppgthemovie.com
lakeralphhallinfo.com
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