88R15119 BK-D

By: Meza H.R. No. 355

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Distinguished citizens of Irving-Las Colinas are gathering on March 1, 2023, to celebrate Irving-Las Colinas Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, The Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce, which is recognized as the first Five Star Chamber of Commerce in Texas, actively represents the interests of the largest business park in North Texas and is celebrating 90 years of service to the area's thriving business community; for the last five decades, area residents have also benefited from access to Las Colinas Association, which helps to maintain a premier master-planned community, as well as the Irving Convention and Visitor's Bureau and Visit Irving, which have ably represented the hospitality industry community in Irving-Las Colinas for the past half century; and

WHEREAS, Irving began its period of rapid growth in the mid-20th century; the Plymouth Park Shopping Center opened in 1955, followed by the opening of the University of Dallas in 1956 and Irving Community Hospital in 1964; the creation of DFW International Airport and the creation of Las Colinas and Valley Ranch master-planned business and residential communities contributed further to the city's growth, and for more than four decades, the city has been home to the Big 12 Conference headquarters and the National Football Foundation; and

WHEREAS, Today, with a population of more than 254,000, Irving has been ranked as the second most culturally diverse city in the United States and is known as the "Headquarters of Headquarters," with more headquarters per capita than any other city in the State of Texas; Irving is home to more than 8,500 companies, including 10 Fortune 500 global headquarters: ExxonMobil, McKesson Corporation, Caterpillar, Builders FirstSource, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Pioneer Natural Resources, Fluor Corporation, Vistra Energy, Celanese Corporation, and Commercial Metals Company, as well as the Fortune 1000 global headquarters for The Michaels Companies, Darling Ingredients, Nexstar Media Group, and Flowserve Corporation; other major employers include such companies as 7-Eleven, Allstate Insurance Company, AT&T, The Boeing Company, CHRISTUS Health, Citigroup, Inc., Keurig Dr Pepper, Envoy Air, Frito-Lay, Microsoft Corporation, Mission Foods, NCH Corporation, NEC Corporation of America, Neiman Marcus Direct, Trader Joe's, Trend Micro, TXOne Networks, and Verizon; and

WHEREAS, Irving's educational resources make it a fine place to live and work; the University of Dallas, Dallas College North Lake Campus, and eight other institutions of higher education offer opportunities for study and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, The Irving Arts Center, which was recognized as the best arts center in Texas by the program Official Best of America in 2022, is home to three symphony orchestras and two award-winning theater companies; other local attractions include the gondolas at the Mandalay Canal, the museum and sculpture of the Mustangs of Las Colinas, the Toyota Music Factory, and Gables Water Street, which provide entertainment for residents and visitors alike; and

WHEREAS, Benefiting greatly from the farsighted leadership of mayor Rick Stopfer, city manager Chris Hillman, and city council members John Bloch, Brad M. LaMorgese, Mark Zeske, Phil Riddle, J. Oscar Ward, Al Zapanta, Kyle Taylor, and Dennis Webb, Irving is a forward-looking and vibrant city, and its creative and hardworking citizens are to be commended for their contributions to the prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2023, as Irving-Las Colinas Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the local government officials, corporate executives, chamber representatives, and other citizens present today.