Frisco Economic Development Corp. President Jim Gandy has announced his retirement after 21 years in service. “It has been my honor to serve as president of the Frisco EDC through these years of dynamic growth and prosperity,” Gandy said in a news release. The FEDC was created in 1991 after Frisco voters approved a half-cent of sales tax to be used to fund economic development. Gandy began with the FEDC in January 1996 and one of his first big projects was to help attract Stonebriar Centre, which eventually opened in Frisco in 2000. During Gandy’s time at the FEDC, he has helped bring big corporations into Frisco such as the Dallas Cowboys, Jamba Juice, T-Mobile and Invest Group Overseas. He has also helped attract developments including IKEA and Centre of Preston Ridge. “Jim has been at the forefront of economic development in Frisco for his 21-plus year tenure,” Frisco City Manager George Purefoy said in the news release. According to the release, Assistant City Manager Ron Patterson will serve as interim FEDC president while the FEDC board of directors conducts a national search. Gandy will retain a role of special advisor to the interim president/president until March 31, 2018. In a February 2016 profile with Community impact Newspaper, Gandy said after he retires he would like to work with his son at his Frisco landscaping company.