|
 |
|
|||
|
|
||
|
|||
November 2006 This issue home | Past issues | Chamber home Chamber Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary One of the oldest and most successful Chambers of Commerce in North Texas, the Richardson Chamber of Commerce (RCC) turns 60 years old this year. More than half a century’s efforts by the RCC have made Richardson one of the most successful cities in the U.S., with a thriving business climate, strong neighborhoods and vital civic amenities that make Richardson a desirable place to live, work and play. In commemoration of this milestone, the RCC is hosting a 60th anniversary celebration during its annual Business & Industry Appreciation Luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 8 at the Richardson Hotel. During this event, themed “Celebrating the Past, Building for the Future,” RCC leaders past and present will re-visit the rich history of the Chamber and present a video tribute to the organization’s notable accomplishments. The Chamber’s origins date back to 1946, when community leaders formed the RCC to help Richardson prepare for post-WWII growth. By 1959, the RCC marketed Richardson as the “Electronics Center of the Southwest,” an identity that carries over today to the internationally known Telecom Corridor® brand. The RCC was instrumental in helping to organize the Richardson Symphony Orchestra in 1961, demonstrating the business community’s interest in developing cultural amenities that enrich the city’s quality of life. In 1969, Chamber officials also traveled to Austin to support the creation of the University of Texas at Dallas. The 1970s were an exciting decade for Richardson and the RCC, as the city celebrated its 100th anniversary while significant citywide growth continued. The RCC often played a key role in facilitating new developments such as Richardson Square Mall, Richardson General Hospital, Rockwell’s Renner Road facility, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ 320,000-square-foot expansion and the Palisades complex. During the 1980’s, the RCC opened its new headquarters at 411 Belle Grove Drive, Chamber leaders supported expansion of Central Expressway and UTD moved forward with plans for a School of Engineering and Computer Science. The Chamber launched new initiatives such as the Richardson Economic Development Partnership (REDP), and in 1986, Leadership Richardson graduated its first class of aspiring leaders. In 1988, the Richardson Chamber launched the Telecom Corridor® brand, and shortly thereafter, the Wall Street Journal featured Richardson as a “Boom Town of the 1990’s.” Over the past decade-and-a-half, Richardson has continued to thrive, with the RCC leading the way. The Metroplex Technology Business Council, created by the RCC in 1994, is now the largest technology trade association in Texas, facilitating high-tech innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce development throughout North Texas. The RCC and REDP were instrumental in the 1997 formation of STARTech Early Ventures, a prestigious high-tech business accelerator/incubator, and the RCC helped bring the President George Bush Turnpike to fruition, creating a new corridor for Richardson’s future growth. The Richardson Chamber helped bring DART light rail to Richardson in 2002, with the opening of new stations at Spring Valley, Arapaho Center and Galatyn Park. The REDP also helped Richardson land the largest capital-intensive project announced in the U.S. in 2003 – the $3 billion Texas Instruments semiconductor wafer fabrication facility – as well as a $50 million award from the Texas Enterprise Fund to stimulate $300 million in public/private investment for UTD. Most recently, the REDP facilitated Countrywide’s decision to expand into Richardson, which will ultimately bring 5,000 new jobs and $200 million in tax revenues to the city. Today, the Richardson Chamber hosts numerous events to provide a forum for public issues and valuable networking opportunities for members. The Chamber also takes a progressive leadership stance on critical civic matters, supporting city bond packages, educational institutions, regional transportation systems and clean air programs, as well as community choice initiatives such as the beer and wine measure on the November ballot. The Chamber’s staff and volunteers thank business leaders for their support of the RCC over the past 60 years, and the Chamber looks forward to continuing its community service over many decades to come. Action News is a monthly publication of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Communications Department. To unsubscribe, e-mail administrator@telecomcorridor.com. Please provide your name, company, phone number and e-mail address. |
|
Top Stories More Top Stories In Every Issue |
