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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A delegation from the Houston East End Chamber of |
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Commerce is visiting the Capitol City on March 6 and 7, 2017, and |
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this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to recognize the |
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organization for its many accomplishments; and |
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WHEREAS, Predating the founding of the city of Houston, the |
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East End can trace its origins to the 1820s, when New York |
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entrepreneur John Harris established Harrisburg at the |
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intersection of Braes and Buffalo Bayous; after briefly serving as |
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the capital of the Republic of Texas, the town was annexed by |
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Houston in 1926; today, the East End remains a location of great |
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importance as the proud home of the Port of Houston, one of the |
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nation's foremost ports for international trade and one of the |
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largest port facilities in the world; and |
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WHEREAS, The Houston East End Chamber of Commerce was founded |
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in 1991 to ensure the economic prosperity of the area; guided by |
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this central goal, the chamber hosts a wide range of programs and |
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events that encourage new commercial ventures and support existing |
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businesses, including luncheons, seminars, committee meetings, |
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golf tournaments, and an annual awards celebration; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2006, the chamber created the Strategic Vision |
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for the East End, which identified six key priorities: economic |
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development, educational resources, history, image, |
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infrastructure, and parks and neighborhoods; the chamber and its |
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partners have since made outstanding progress, establishing an |
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Economic Development Division in 2009 and the East End Street Fest |
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in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to equipping the next generation with the |
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knowledge and skills necessary to succeed, the chamber has awarded |
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$250,000 in scholarships over the past decade; moreover, the |
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organization started a half-day Education Symposium and helped |
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organize Port of Houston Maritime Academies at Stephen F. Austin |
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and Jack Yates High Schools as well as a National Engineering |
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Academy at Chavez High School; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, the East End Chamber of |
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Commerce has worked to enhance the business environment of Houston |
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by providing excellent opportunities for networking, promotion, |
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and education, and in so doing, the group has significantly |
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contributed to the economic vitality of Southeast Texas; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce |
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for its exemplary efforts in behalf of the East End community and |
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the surrounding area and extend to its membership sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the chamber as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |