Director of Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce.“It’s centered around an exciting, growing population and an enjoyable lake.” The lake is both the centerpiece and the catalyst for much of Little Elm’s development, shaping not only recreation but also tourism, economic priorities, and the town’s overall vision for the future. FOSTERING ENGAGEMENT IN A GROWING POPULATION For Matt Mueller, Town Manager, the “hometown feel” isn’t about size, it’s about connection.“To a core, hometown feel means connection.That’s something our group has been very intentional with for decades,” he says. Mueller has witnessed the community grow from roughly 25,000 residents when he arrived 13 years ago to more than 60,000 today. Two decades earlier, the population hovered around 5,000. Such rapid change brings opportunity, but it also requires a deliberate approach to community-building. Maintaining close ties amid that growth means creating intentional touchpoints with residents. The town invests heavily in engagement, through neighborhood gatherings, festivals, and parks programming, ensuring that the personal connections at the heart of small-town life aren’t lost. “We are truly a place where people live and play,” Mueller says. “And we lean into that every day.” With an average age of just 34, Little Elm’s residents are busy with careers and young families, which means engagement strategies need to be efficient and impactful.“We don’t mistake silence for apathy,” Mueller says. The town focuses on engagement during planning phases for significant projects, using surveys, master plans, and public meetings to gather input that directly shapes decisions. Drew Bailey, Director of Tourism and Communications, highlights the balancing act between welcoming visitors and supporting residents. “Our biggest economic driver is tourism, but we also have to make sure residents feel included and valued,” she says. “It’s a tricky slope, making sure we don’t neglect our residents while attracting visitors.” THE LAKEFRONT VISION The town’s Lakefront District is central to this strategy. 119 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 LITTLE ELM, TX
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