H.C.R. No. 130 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, In the global economy of the 21st century, the establishment of business links to countries outside the United States is of growing importance to the State of Texas, and areas that figure prominently in this type of development contribute greatly to the state's commercial progress; and WHEREAS, One especially fertile location for the growth of international business is the city of Richardson; long a center for computer and communications technology and the site of many divisional or regional corporate headquarters, Richardson has also attracted more than 30 companies from foreign countries; the firms hail from 15 nations around the globe, including Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom; and WHEREAS, These enterprises compete in a variety of industries; while many specialize in technology-oriented fields such as semiconductor manufacturing, telecommunications, and software development, others focus on workforce management, security, air transportation, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, among numerous other endeavors; and WHEREAS, The city has also been chosen as a base of operations for domestic companies that maintain operations abroad; these firms further Richardson's involvement in international business and allow area residents to benefit from the opportunities available in foreign markets; and WHEREAS, To build on the city's connection to global commerce, civic leaders are opening the Mayor's Office of International Business, a partnership between the City of Richardson and the Richardson Chamber of Commerce, and the chamber is also establishing a new Richardson International Business Advisory Committee; these initiatives are designed to attract investment by companies from other countries, to support locally based firms seeking to develop their business abroad, and to open new international markets for the city's entrepreneurs; and WHEREAS, The Richardson Economic Development Partnership also plays a key role in nurturing global business alliances, and its work includes hosting delegations from around the world who visit North Texas to learn about the area and assess prospects for commercial partnerships; and WHEREAS, Another factor that makes the city so inviting to international companies and business leaders is its thriving multicultural character; Richardson is home to people from a broad range of backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions and offers a vibrant mix of restaurants, specialty stores, and places of worship that reflects the diversity of the population; in addition, cultural centers such as the Raindrop Turkish House and the Dallas Chinese Community Center further the cosmopolitan environment; and WHEREAS, With its emphasis on developing international business as an important component of the local economy, Richardson stands as an admirable model for the way that Texas communities can compete and prosper in the decades ahead, and its achievements are indeed deserving of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate Richardson as the official International Business Capital of North Texas. Button Madden Carter ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was adopted by the House on May 13, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was adopted by the Senate on May 24, 2011, by a viva-voce vote. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor