88R19803 TBO-D
By: Leach H.R. No. 805
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Residents from Collin County are gathering in Austin
on March 28 and 29, 2023, to celebrate Collin County Days at the
State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Collin County is one of the largest and
fastest-growing counties in the state; more than 90 percent of its
workforce over the age of 25 hold a high school diploma and about
half have earned at least a bachelor's degree; such highly skilled
workers also make the county a leader in job growth; and
WHEREAS, With a population of 283,000, Plano is the largest
city in the county and home to a number of iconic global
corporations, including Toyota Motor North America, Liberty Mutual
Insurance, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Boeing Global Services, NTT DATA,
JCPenney, FedEx Office, Frito-Lay, and Capital One; in 2018, the
city was recognized as the best place to live in America by
AreaVibes, the best city to buy a house in America by Niche, and the
best city for jobs in America by Forbes, while maintaining its
status as one of the safest cities in America by WalletHub and among
the top five best-performing cities in America by the Milken
Institute; this thriving municipality boasts nationally recognized
schools, award-winning parks, a lively historic downtown district,
and multicultural neighborhoods that appeal equally to families,
young singles, and retirees; its excellent restaurants, vibrant
shopping districts, exciting entertainment venues, and active
local arts scene all contribute to the city's high quality of life;
this year, the city is celebrating the 150th anniversary of its
founding, which took place on June 2, 1873; and
WHEREAS, County seat and home of the McKinney National
Airport, the city of McKinney hosts such major employers as the
aerospace division of Raytheon Company, Encore Wire Corporation,
Emerson Process Management, and Torchmark Corporation; recent
relocations include PACCAR and Moss Construction, and the community
continues to cultivate its own businesses, including Playful, a
virtual reality gaming company; in recent years, Independent Bank
also completed construction of its new headquarters; furthermore,
the city's historic downtown encompasses more than 130 boutiques;
this rapidly growing community currently has a population of more
than 211,000, marking a significant increase over the last decade;
the McKinney National Airport has maintained its status as an
economic engine with recent expansions to its facilities, including
a new state-of-the-art FBO terminal; and
WHEREAS, Allen is a dynamic and welcoming home to more than
110,000 residents and has been ranked among the safest, most
affordable, and most family-friendly cities nationwide, and the
city continues to enhance the Texas workforce through the addition
and expansion of such international companies as NETSCOUT, Boss
Fight Entertainment, and CyrusOne; in 2017, the city was named the
number two "Best Place to Live" and number one "Best Place to Live
in the South" by Money magazine, and the city received the coveted
National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award in 2016
for its creation and stewardship of more than 1,300 acres of
parkland, 67 parks and facilities, and 78 miles of hike-and-bike
trails; moreover, its volunteer efforts were recognized with the
2012, 2016, and 2022 Keep Texas Beautiful Governor's Community
Achievement Award for efforts in environmental education,
community beautification, and litter prevention; and
WHEREAS, Defining "Progress in Motion," Frisco is one of the
fastest-growing cities in the country and the fastest-growing
community over the past decade, according to the United States
census bureau; it has maintained its quality of life amid rapid
development, and the Dallas Morning News named Frisco among its top
10 suburbs for schools, safety, families with children, young
adults, empty nesters, and "Best Overall" neighborhoods; known for
top-notch public safety services, the city received the highest
rating for fire protection, and it enjoys one of the lowest crime
rates, as well as low taxes; this once-small town is home to Collin
College, Preston Ridge Campus, world-class venues, and seven
professional sports organizations, namely the Frisco RoughRiders,
Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, Texas Legends, Dallas Rattlers, Dallas
Cowboys, and the PGA of America; active residents have access to 49
parks, 86 miles of trails, and an athletic center featuring an
outdoor water park; health care facilities include three hospitals,
and the favorable business climate supports more than nine million
square feet of retail and restaurants; among the cultural amenities
are three museums and hundreds of public and private art
installations displayed throughout Frisco's approximately
70-square-mile area; recently, the University of North Texas opened
a campus in Frisco, becoming the first four-year college in Collin
County; and
WHEREAS, The city of Wylie, Wylie Independent School
District, Wylie Chamber of Commerce, and Wylie Economic Development
Corporation work in concert to build a strong community that
strives to honor the past, embrace the present, and plan for the
future, while valuing unity, relationships, and trust, as evidenced
by its ranking as second among more than 2,000 cities across the
nation on the 25 Best Places to Live for Families list by Fortune
Magazine; known as "Wide Awake Wylie," the town of 62,000 residents
fosters a spirit of cooperation and features a thriving business
environment as well as outstanding schools; it is a place people
treasure and proudly call home, set apart by its strong sense of
community and long history; and
WHEREAS, The city of Richardson, which is known globally for
its high-tech business leadership, is home to the Telecom Corridor
area and was named the International Business Capital of North
Texas by the 82nd Texas Legislature; Richardson is a major
employment center, with companies including Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Texas, Fossil, RealPage, Fujitsu Network Communications,
and Cisco Systems having headquarters in the city; other major
employers include State Farm, Raytheon, UnitedHealthcare, Texas
Instruments, and AT&T; Richardson offers a high quality of life, a
diverse array of neighborhoods, and easy access to a multimodal
transportation infrastructure; the city has repeatedly been
recognized as one of the top places to live, work, and obtain an
education by national and local media; in 2018, CBS News ranked
Richardson the 16th-best city in the United States to live, and it
finished ninth nationally among top cities for STEM workers by
Livability; Richardson is home to The University of Texas at
Dallas, one of the fastest-growing universities in the state, and
the city remains dedicated to continued improvement as well as to
the principles of open government and two-way communication with
residents; established on June 26, 1873, the city is celebrating
its 150th birthday this year; and
WHEREAS, The city of Murphy, a diverse, historically
significant residential community in southeastern Collin County,
continues to create a distinctive ambience of homeowner pride and
neighborhood vitality, and it has maintained its designation as a
Top 10 Best Suburb by DMagazine since the inception of the ratings;
Murphy's commitment to an enhanced quality of life is reflected in
the number and level of excellence in its parks system, as well as
its highly regarded year-round special events; the emerging
business community offers a wide range of desirable retail and
culinary options, and residents enjoy the safety and security of
professionally managed public safety functions; and
WHEREAS, With approximately 36,000 residents, Prosper is
currently experiencing a 13 percent annual growth rate; located
where the northern edge of Dallas' Golden Corridor meets the
booming U.S. 380 Corridor, the town is poised for continued
commercial, office, retail, and residential development; Prosper
is home to several top housing developers, including Blue Star
Land, LandPlan Development, and the Tellus Group; over $500 million
in pediatric medical care facilities have been built in Prosper,
such as Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper and Children's
Health Specialty Center; the city also established a comprehensive
Downtown Master Development Plan to promote the enhancement of
existing businesses and the attraction of new ones; the Prosper
Independent School District spans 58 square miles and serves more
than 25,000 students, and thanks to its excellent arts, academic,
and athletic programs as well as its highly qualified teachers, the
district is a state leader in student growth; recognized as a Tree
City USA and certified as a Scenic City silver-level community,
Prosper has more than 634 acres of open spaces, recreational
venues, and facilities for sports and fitness, as well as over 52
miles of hike-and-bike trails; moreover, the town offers such
community engagement programs as the New Resident Mixer, Prosper
Citizens Academy, Citizens on Patrol, the Citizens Police and Fire
Academies, and special events for all ages and interests; Prosper
continues to live up to its name and motto as "A place where
everyone matters"; and
WHEREAS, Having been a platinum-level Scenic City in Texas
since 2011, Fairview has also been recognized as a Tree City USA
community and earned a Growing Green Cities Award, and it is home to
the first street in Texas to be illuminated by LED lighting; the
town is a three-time recipient of the Texas Municipal League
Municipal Excellence Award and on an annual basis continues to earn
the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial
Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association; the
Fairview Economic Development Corporation was awarded a
Certificate of Achievement for Economic Excellence by the Texas
Economic Development Council in 2017, and the Texas Chapter of the
American Planning Association honored Fairview with a Certificate
of Achievement for Planning Excellence in 2015, 2016, and 2017; in
addition, the town's Veterans Park has been recognized with a
Patriotic Achievement Award from the Military Order of the World
Wars; Fairview also features two of the Top 25 Best School Districts
in Texas as ranked by Niche and continues to be ranked as one of the
safest and most desirable places to live in Texas; and
WHEREAS, With 78 square miles of land, Celina has the second-
largest geographic footprint of any city in Collin County;
strategic growth plans allow the city to manage new development
along the Dallas North Tollway, Preston Road, and future Collin
County Outer Loop corridors; Celina is one of the fastest-growing
communities in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, having issued 1,249
single-family housing permits in 2018; the city's robust "Texas
historic" downtown is filled with a number of unique shops,
offices, and award-winning restaurants, including Tender
Smokehouse, which was rated the number two best place to eat on
Yelp; its school district was recognized for its academic
achievements with a prestigious "A" rating, and the city has
received numerous accolades for its outstanding budgeting and
financial reporting; residents and visitors come together to enjoy
a number of special events throughout the year, including Movie
Nights on the Square, Oktoberfest, Splash & Blast, and Cajun Fest;
Celina's natural rural beauty, coupled with its exquisite
recreational fields and amenities, creates a welcoming, small
country-feel culture; and
WHEREAS, Lucas was founded in 1888 and became incorporated as
a city government on February 19, 1959; the city is currently home
to more than 9,000 residents, and in recent years, it has
experienced significant growth spurred by its quality housing,
large lot sizes, exceptional education systems, low crime rate, and
animal-friendly neighborhoods; the community has maintained a
peaceful, rural lifestyle, helping to sustain a high quality of
life for its citizens; the city is pleased to offer 25 miles of
trails along Lake Lavon for pedestrians and equestrian enthusiasts,
and it continues to focus on wildlife habitat preservation, making
it the perfect home for the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center; the
city's many honors include the 2022 Governor's Community
Achievement Award from Keep Texas Beautiful, the Community
Partnership Award from the International City/County Management
Association, and certification as a silver level Scenic City; each
year, area residents enjoy taking part in a number of special
events, such as Founders Day, Country Christmas, and an annual
trail cleanup; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of Parker are proud to be living in
D Magazine's number two suburb in the DFW Metroplex, and they also
enjoy a low municipal tax rate; the residents number more than
5,000, and they cherish their uniquely "country" lifestyle;
characterized by its large lots and comfortable atmosphere, Parker
is known to millions of television viewers as the home of the
legendary Southfork Ranch from Dallas; and
WHEREAS, Boasting an area of 64 square miles, Anna is one of
the fastest-growing cities in North Texas, with a population of
more than 21,000, and it is expected to grow to 100,000 by 2050; the
city serves as the northern gateway of Collin County, and it is
located along U.S. Highway 75, State Highway 5, and State Highway
121; Anna's residents enjoy an excellent quality of life through
numerous recreational opportunities, parks, trails, open spaces,
and easy access to the DFW and Red River corridors; the city, Anna
Independent School District, Anna Community Development
Corporation, and the Greater Anna Chamber of Commerce often
collaborate to maintain a hometown atmosphere as the area undergoes
rapid urbanization, and Anna was ranked among the safest cities in
Texas in 2021 by a SafeWise report; Collin McKinney, one of the
5 drafters and 59 signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence,
lived in Anna for a number of years; and
WHEREAS, Farmersville, located 15 miles east of McKinney,
took its name from the primary occupation of its original
residents; established in 1849 as a settlement on the
Jefferson-McKinney Road and near the Republic of Texas National
Road, the town was incorporated in 1873; agriculture kept pace as it
became a trade center, and in the 1930s, Farmersville shipped over
1,000 carloads of onions annually, earning the nickname "Onion
Capital of North Texas"; today, the city is working to advance local
industries and railroad projects, and it is home to a number of
businesses; in addition, the Farmersville Independent School
District and the Collin College Farmersville Campus help strengthen
the city's workforce; Farmersville has a nationally recognized Main
Street Program, with many historic downtown buildings, eateries,
and shopping attractions; near the restored Onion Shed is the
trailhead for the 130-mile Northeast Texas Trail, a beautiful site
for walking, hiking, and bicycling; and
WHEREAS, Settled in the mid-1850s, the city of Lavon is
nestled along the southeastern shore of Lake Lavon, and it is home
to approximately 3,800 residents who enjoy the friendliness of the
small-town atmosphere combined with the benefits of living near an
exciting metro area; the city's growing parks and trail system,
planned capital improvements, attraction of quality business
development, growth opportunities, and commitment to service
contribute to an outstanding quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The city of Melissa is one of the fastest-growing
communities in Collin County, gaining roughly one new family per
day; residents enjoy a friendly atmosphere and close access to a
number of amenities, as well as more square feet per dollar for the
price of homes; Melissa is beginning to grow commercially to
provide its citizens with even more amenities; and
WHEREAS, Other communities add much to Collin County's
allure; the growing community of Blue Ridge is committed to
revitalizing its downtown by providing a small-town rural feel;
with its beautiful rolling hills, open skies with magnificent
sunrises and sunsets, and friendly residents, Blue Ridge has a
quaint charm all of its own; Cattlemans Cafe, established in 1953
and featured in D Magazine and on Texas Country Reporter, adds to
the town's neighborly atmosphere with its outstanding chicken fried
steak; known as the "Home of the Last Texas Prairie in Collin
County," the drive to Blue Ridge is replete with scenic open spaces
dotted with cattle and horses; and
WHEREAS, Located in the center of Collin County, the city of
Princeton is a planned community that is currently working to
become a Smart City; the community was named the number one place
for first-time home buyers in the DFW area by NerdWallet in 2016,
and it was recognized as a Prime Designated U.S. Site by Trade and
Industry Development in 2022; the city has continued to lead Collin
County as one of its fastest-growing cities with an average 20
percent growth rate since 2017, and it issued more than 1,076
single-family permits in 2022; with its Certified Scenic City
Designation and its new Municipal Center and 100-acre Municipal
Park, Princeton has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to
cultivating a small-town atmosphere by prioritizing the addition of
new parks, trails, and open space, and it maintains a low crime rate
by national standards; the city places emphasis on an open and
transparent government, and it has been consistently recognized
with the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished
Budget Presentation Award and its Certificate for Excellence in
Financial Reporting; the Princeton Independent School District
earned an "A" rating from the state, and it is home to the CATE
Center, which provides vocational training across numerous
skill-based fields; moreover, the district participates in the Jump
Start Program and offers students the opportunity to receive an
associate's degree while attending high school; and
WHEREAS, Sachse is a vibrant, diverse, well-educated, and
growing community that offers its residents a high quality of life
while retaining its small-town charm; named as one of the safest
cities in Texas, the community prides itself on providing its
families with a safe place to live; with its prime location along
the President George Bush Turnpike, Sachse has become a regionally
significant point of access for the fastest-growing city in eastern
Collin County; it is the home of an increasingly large retail trade
area that includes a growing mixed-used development called The
Station; and
WHEREAS, Also contributing to the development of Collin
County are the residents of Copeville, Lowry Crossing, Nevada, New
Hope, Royse City, St. Paul, Westminster, and Weston, along with
parts of Dallas and Garland, and these communities play an
important part in the county's flourishing, diversified economy and
its quality of life; and
WHEREAS, The citizens of this notable North Texas county are
working to preserve the best of their past even as they look forward
to a bright and promising future, and they are sure to figure
prominently in the growth and prosperity of the Lone Star State in
the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 28 and 29, 2023, as Collin
County Days at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting
delegation sincere best wishes for a meaningful and memorable stay
in Austin.