84R8872 BPG-D
 
  By: Laubenberg H.R. No. 754
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering at the
  State Capitol on March 2 and 3, 2015, to celebrate Collin County
  Days, and this event provides an opportunity to pay tribute to its
  many prosperous communities; and
         WHEREAS, Collin County is one of the largest and
  fastest-growing counties in the state; more than 90 percent of its
  workforce over the age of 25 holds a high school diploma and about
  half has earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
  workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
         WHEREAS, Plano is the largest city in the county and home to
  such major companies as Frito-Lay, J. C. Penney Company, Inc.,
  Ericsson, H. P. Enterprise Services, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group,
  Inc.; Toyota has established its North American headquarters in
  Plano, as has Hilti Corporation; cited as one of the top 10 best
  cities in which to find a job, Plano has also been named one of the
  Best Run Cities in America by 24/7 Wall St.; this thriving
  municipality boasts nationally recognized schools, award-winning
  parks, a lively historic downtown district, and multicultural
  neighborhoods that appeal equally to families, young singles, and
  retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant shopping districts,
  exciting entertainment venues, and active local arts scene all
  contribute to the city's high quality of life; and
         WHEREAS, Home of the Collin County Regional Airport, McKinney
  hosts such major employers as Raytheon Company, Encore Wire
  Corporation, Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark
  Corporation; its historic downtown encompasses more than 130
  boutiques, and it earned the ranking of #1 Best Place to Live 2014
  by Money magazine; and
         WHEREAS, Allen was named among the 10 safest cities in the
  nation in its class for the third time by CQ Press, and it has also
  placed 13th on Money magazine's list of the Best Places to Live; the
  city received the Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community Award
  for its environmental efforts, and its residents are proud of the
  2014 6A Division 1 high school football champions, the Allen
  Eagles; and
         WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is the
  second-fastest growing city in the country and the fastest-growing
  community over the past decade, according to the United States
  census bureau; it has maintained its quality of life amid rapid
  development, and the Dallas Morning News named Frisco among its top
  10 suburbs for schools, safety, families with children, young
  adults, empty nesters, and "Best Overall" neighborhoods; known for
  top-notch public safety services, the city received the highest
  rating for fire protection, and it enjoys one of the lowest crime
  rates, as well as low taxes; this once-small town is home to Collin
  College, world-class venues, and four professional sports teams,
  with another on the way; active residents have access to 49 parks,
  86 miles of trails, and an athletic center featuring an outdoor
  water park; health care facilities include three hospitals, and the
  favorable business climate supports more than nine million square
  feet of retail and restaurants; among the cultural amenities are
  two museums and hundreds of public and private art installations
  displayed throughout Frisco's 72-square-mile area; and
         WHEREAS, The City of Wylie, Wylie Independent School
  District, Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and Wylie Economic Development
  Corporation work in concert to build a strong community that
  strives to honor the past, embrace the present, and plan for the
  future, while valuing unity, relationships, and trust, as evidenced
  by a recent report naming Wylie the second-best small city in the
  country in which to raise a family; Wylie fosters a spirit of
  cooperation, and with a thriving business environment and
  outstanding schools, it is a place people treasure and proudly call
  home; and
         WHEREAS, Richardson is the home of The University of Texas at
  Dallas and the Telecom Corridor; it has been recognized by the Texas
  Legislature as the official International Business Capital of North
  Texas and is the second largest employment center in the DFW
  Metroplex; more than 10,000 people will soon be employed at the
  CityLine development by KDC, which includes State Farm's new
  regional campus and Raytheon's Intelligence Information and
  Services unit; welcoming numerous visitors, the city hosts the
  Wildflower! Arts and Music Festival, the largest such event in
  North Texas, and the Cottonwood Art Festival, one of the top outdoor
  arts festivals in the nation; and
         WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, an affluent residential
  community in southeastern Collin County, has maintained its
  designation as a top 10 Best Suburb by D Magazine since the
  inception of the ratings; Murphy boasts over 219 acres of parkland,
  and it has rich community programs along with a culturally diverse,
  highly educated population of over 20,000; exciting new businesses
  have joined an engaging business community, and residents take
  pride in the city's ranking as the third-safest city in North Texas
  and the fifth safest in the state; and
         WHEREAS, Recognized by D Magazine as a top 10 suburb, Prosper
  issued more than 550 single-family housing permits in 2014, and it
  has a billion-dollar mixed-use development in the works; it is home
  to several top housing developers, including Blue Star Development,
  LandPlan, and Terra Verde Group; Prosper's citizens have passed a
  $710 million bond package for their public schools, which have
  maintained academic excellence while experiencing a growth in
  enrollment of 50 percent over the last three years; the city's
  outstanding police department offers such community outreach and
  crime prevention programs as Citizens on Patrol, the Citizens
  Police Academy, and Prosper Community Watch, among others; and
         WHEREAS, One of two platinum-level Scenic Cities in Texas,
  Fairview has been recognized as a Tree City USA and earned a 2012
  Growing Green Cities Award; the city is home to the first street in
  Texas illuminated by LED lighting and is a three-time recipient of
  the Texas Municipal League Municipal Excellence Award; the city's
  Veterans' Park has been recognized with a Patriotic Achievement
  Award from the Military Order of the World Wars; and
         WHEREAS, The crossroads of the developing transportation
  corridor in northern Collin County, Celina is growing rapidly while
  retaining its respect for the traditional values of family and
  heritage; its school district is rich in academic and athletic
  achievement, with the Celina Bobcats earning pride of place as the
  winners of eight state football championships; and
         WHEREAS, Since its incorporation in 1959, Lucas has embraced
  its serene rural lifestyle, which creates a high quality of life for
  its citizens; it is a country oasis of spacious homes, small
  ranches, and farms, with 25 miles of trails for horses and
  pedestrians along Lake Lavon; the focus on wildlife habitat
  preservation has made it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie
  Raptor Center; moreover, quality schools and a vibrant residential
  market keep Lucas family friendly; the city's emphasis on financial
  stability and transparency has earned it the Certificate in
  Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the
  Government Finance Officers Association, along with the Texas
  Comptroller's Leadership Circle Platinum Award, and an AA+ bond
  rating; enhancing the safety of the public, the City of Lucas Fire
  Department provides emergency medical services; the department
  continues to benefit from volunteerism, and the community is justly
  known as a small city with a big heart; and
         WHEREAS, The citizens of Parker are proud to be living in D
  Magazine's number two suburb in the DFW Metroplex, and they also
  enjoy a low municipal tax rate, as well as a AAA bond rating; the
  residents number about 4,000, and they cherish their uniquely
  "country" lifestyle; characterized by its large lots and
  comfortable atmosphere, Parker is known to millions of television
  viewers as the home of the legendary Southfork Ranch from Dallas;
  and
         WHEREAS, One of the fastest-growing cities in the Dallas/Fort
  Worth Metroplex, the city of Anna is a family-friendly community
  with hometown appeal; its residents enjoy an unhurried and friendly
  atmosphere, with safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, and access
  to many urban amenities; local businesses benefit from affordable
  real estate, a low cost of doing business, a well-educated
  workforce, an active chamber of commerce, and dedicated consumers;
  and
         WHEREAS, Farmersville, located 15 miles east of McKinney,
  took its name from the primary occupation of its original
  residents; established in 1849 as a settlement on the
  Jefferson-McKinney Road and near the Republic of Texas National
  Road, the town was incorporated in 1873; agriculture kept pace as it
  became a trade center, and in the 1930s, Farmersville shipped over
  1,000 carloads of onions annually, earning the nickname "Onion
  Capital of North Texas"; the city may be best known for native son
  Audie Murphy, who listed Farmersville as his hometown when he
  enlisted in the army during WWII and returned home to a hero's
  welcome in 1945; he had earned every army citation for valor, was a
  recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, and was posthumously
  awarded the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor; Farmersville has a
  nationally recognized Main Street Program, with many historic
  downtown buildings, eateries, and shopping attractions; near the
  restored Onion Shed is the trailhead for the 130-mile Northeast
  Texas Trail, a beautiful site for walking, hiking, and bicycling;
  and
         WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
  allure; the growing community of Blue Ridge is committed to
  revitalizing its downtown, while the people of Josephine are proud
  of their active volunteer fire department, which not only protects
  the community but hosts such popular annual events as the Easter egg
  hunt and the Christmas parade; and
         WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
  County are the citizens of Copeville, Lavon, Lowry Crossing,
  Melissa, Nevada, New Hope, Princeton, Royse City, Sachse, St. Paul,
  Westminster, and Weston, along with parts of Dallas and Garland,
  and those communities play an important part in the county's
  flourishing, diversified economy and its quality of life; and
         WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
  working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
  to a bright and promising future, and they are sure to figure
  prominently in the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State in
  the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize March 2 and 3, 2015, as Collin County
  Days at the State Capitol and extend sincere best wishes to the
  visiting delegation for an informative and enjoyable visit to
  Austin.