88R12099 BHH-D
By: Alvarado S.R. No. 161
R E S O L U T I O N
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 88th Texas 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.