By Hinojosa H.R. No. 211 77R5613 MMS-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Edinburg, Texas, has been named a 2000 winner of the 1-2 All-America City award, the oldest and most prestigious prize 1-3 accorded communities in the United States; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Given by the National Civic League and by Allstate, 1-5 the award salutes communities that bring together diverse 1-6 perspectives and segments of their population in order to address 1-7 the most important local needs; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Edinburg was one of 10 winners chosen for the 2000 1-9 designation, out of 30 finalists; as part of its application, the 1-10 city submitted descriptions of three projects that had significant, 1-11 demonstrable results and promise to make a long-lasting 1-12 contribution to the city; and 1-13 WHEREAS, These projects include the South Texas Youth 1-14 Initiative, a nonprofit organization created by high school 1-15 students to teach elementary and secondary students effective 1-16 leadership skills; the Beautification Matching Loan Program, which 1-17 supplements funding from lending institutions for the purpose of 1-18 financing repairs, renovations, and improvements in the downtown 1-19 district; and the establishment of a city task force that succeeded 1-20 in keeping a large employer in the city; and 1-21 WHEREAS, In addition to fostering community pride and 1-22 cohesion, these projects can serve to instruct and inspire other 1-23 groups across the country as they seek ways of dealing with similar 1-24 issues; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The winner of two previous All-America City awards, 2-2 in 1968 and 1995, Edinburg has a tradition of open, inclusive, and 2-3 visionary civic problem-solving that will continue to invigorate 2-4 this forward-looking Texas town, and it is a pleasure to join with 2-5 its citizens in celebrating this newest tribute to their civic 2-6 spirit; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-8 Legislature hereby congratulate the citizens of Edinburg on their 2-9 community's designation as a 2000 All-America City and extend to 2-10 them sincere best wishes for good fortune in all their future 2-11 endeavors.