87R4563 CW-D
 
  By: Perez H.R. No. 329
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The members of the Texas House of Representatives
  are pleased to recognize the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce
  and congratulate the chamber for its many accomplishments; and
         WHEREAS, Predating the founding of the city of Houston, the
  East End can trace its origins to the 1820s, when New York
  entrepreneur John Harris established Harrisburg at the
  intersection of Braes and Buffalo Bayous; after briefly serving as
  the capital of the Republic of Texas, the town was annexed by
  Houston in 1926; today, the East End remains a location of great
  importance as the proud home of the Port of Houston, one of the
  nation's foremost ports for international trade and one of the
  largest port facilities in the world; and
         WHEREAS, The Houston East End Chamber of Commerce was founded
  in 1991 to ensure the economic prosperity of the area; guided by
  this central goal, the chamber hosts a wide range of programs and
  events that encourage new commercial ventures and support existing
  businesses, and it has begun providing webinars and other resources
  to help business leaders meet the challenges of the COVID-19
  pandemic; moreover, the group created the Strategic Vision for the
  East End in 2006, and the chamber and its partners have since made
  outstanding progress, establishing an Economic Development
  Division in 2009 and the East End Street Fest in 2013; and
         WHEREAS, Dedicated to equipping the next generation with the
  knowledge and skills necessary to succeed, the chamber foundation
  has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships over the past 13
  years; in addition, the chamber started an Education Symposium and
  helped organize Port of Houston Maritime Academies at Stephen F.
  Austin and Jack Yates High Schools as well as a National Engineering
  Academy at Chavez High School; and
         WHEREAS, Since its inception, the East End Chamber of
  Commerce has played an integral role in the growth and economic
  well-being of the region, and the success of this dynamic
  organization is a testament to the superb work of its members, both
  past and present; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby honor the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce
  for its exemplary efforts in behalf of the East End community and
  the surrounding area and extend best wishes to all those associated
  with the chamber.