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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce |
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are gathering in Austin on February 15, 2023, to celebrate East End |
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Day at the State Capitol; 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 Richardson Harris established Harrisburg at the |
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intersection of Brays 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 encompasses more than 234,000 |
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people and 7,700 businesses, and it 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 promote economic expansion and investment in the area; |
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guided by this central goal, the chamber hosts a wide range of |
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programs, such as business luncheons, business-to-business |
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seminars, and other events that encourage new commercial ventures, |
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foster good will, and support existing businesses, and in recent |
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years, it has provided webinars and other resources to help |
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business leaders meet the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; |
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moreover, the group created the Strategic Vision for the East End in |
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2006, and the chamber and its partners have since made outstanding |
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progress, establishing an Economic Development Division in 2009 and |
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the East End Street Fest in 2013; the East End serves as the |
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commercial center of the city and the hub of its transportation |
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systems, and an investment exceeding half a billion dollars is |
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bringing light rail through the heart of the district as well as |
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street beautification projects; 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 foundation |
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has awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships over the past 17 |
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years; in addition, the chamber launched an annual Education |
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Symposium and helped organize Port of Houston Maritime Academies at |
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Stephen F. Austin and Jack Yates High Schools as well as a National |
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Engineering Academy at Chávez High School; and |
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WHEREAS, The Houston East End Chamber of Commerce has |
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remained steadfast in its mission to promote economic vitality by |
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establishing strong connections throughout the community, and it is |
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a pleasure to recognize the organization for its myriad |
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contributions to the East End; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Houston East End Chamber of |
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Commerce East End Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome |
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to the visiting delegation. |