SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161

WHEREAS, Members of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce are gathering in Austin on February 15, 2023, to celebrate East End Day at the State Capitol; 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 Richardson Harris established Harrisburg at the intersection of Brays 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 encompasses more than 234,000 people and 7,700 businesses, and it 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 promote economic expansion and investment in the area; guided by this central goal, the chamber hosts a wide range of programs, such as business luncheons, business-to-business seminars, and other events that encourage new commercial ventures, foster good will, and support existing businesses, and in recent years, it has provided 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; the East End serves as the commercial center of the city and the hub of its transportation systems, and an investment exceeding half a billion dollars is bringing light rail through the heart of the district as well as street beautification projects; 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 17 years; in addition, the chamber launched an annual 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 Chávez High School; and

WHEREAS, The Houston East End Chamber of Commerce has remained steadfast in its mission to promote economic vitality by establishing strong connections throughout the community, and it is a pleasure to recognize the organization for its myriad contributions to the East End; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas 88th Legislature, hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Houston East End Chamber of Commerce East End Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.

Alvarado

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 15, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate