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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The High Ground of Texas is celebrating its 30th |
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| 6 | 7 | | anniversary in 2018, and this milestone year provides a fitting |
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| 7 | 8 | | opportunity to recognize the organization for its contributions to |
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| 8 | 9 | | the community; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Established in 1988, the High Ground is a marketing |
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| 10 | 11 | | coalition that helps to promote job creation and economic growth in |
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| 11 | 12 | | the Panhandle, South Plains, Permian Basin, and Concho Valley |
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| 12 | 13 | | regions of Texas; the group works to introduce West Texas to new |
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| 13 | 14 | | industries while presenting a unified voice on issues that affect |
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| 14 | 15 | | the area; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Operating at the state, national, and international |
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| 16 | 17 | | levels, the High Ground has touted the region's outstanding quality |
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| 17 | 18 | | of life, low cost of living, skilled workforce, strategic location, |
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| 18 | 19 | | excellent business climate, and economic diversity at myriad trade |
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| 19 | 20 | | shows and expositions; the organization has taken its message to |
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| 20 | 21 | | countries around the world, including Germany, Denmark, the United |
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| 21 | 22 | | Kingdom, France, Mexico, Canada, Argentina, and Brazil; and |
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| 22 | 23 | | WHEREAS, At its start, the High Ground had 29 members and |
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| 23 | 24 | | represented 41 counties, but in the years since its founding, it has |
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| 24 | 25 | | grown to include more than 75 members across 67 counties with a |
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| 25 | 26 | | combined population of 1.5 million people; the group's membership |
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| 26 | 27 | | is composed of such regional stakeholders as cities, counties, |
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| 27 | 28 | | utilities, cooperatives, chambers of commerce, and economic |
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| 28 | 29 | | development corporations; and |
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| 29 | 30 | | WHEREAS, In recent years, the High Ground was adeptly guided |
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| 30 | 31 | | by Lorie Vincent, who served as executive director from 1998 to |
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| 31 | 32 | | 2014; today the organization is ably led by executive director |
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| 32 | 33 | | Kevin Carter; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, For the past three decades, the High Ground has |
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| 34 | 35 | | furthered the common interests of its member communities and |
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| 35 | 36 | | organizations by skillfully displaying the region's boundless |
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| 36 | 37 | | spirit of hard work, pioneer grit, and neighborliness to the world; |
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| 37 | 38 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | Legislature hereby congratulate the High Ground of Texas on its |
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| 40 | 41 | | 30th anniversary in 2018 and extend to the organization's members |
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| 41 | 42 | | and staff sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 44 | | prepared for the group as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | House of Representatives. |
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