RCC Joins Community Leaders for Legislative Day in Austin Feb. 21

State capitol building in Austin

Leaders of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce will host representatives of the City of Richardson, area business executives, Richardson ISD administrators and other community leaders at Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 21 in Austin. The group hopes to present a united front in meetings with elected and state officials, setting the groundwork for policy developments that will directly benefit businesses and citizens right here in Richardson. Through these meetings, Chamber and community leaders hope to influence outcomes in such areas as economic development, taxation, higher education, public school financing and other critical quality of life issues.

On the economic development front, Richardson representatives intend to support the replenishment of two state funds that have significantly benefited the city. The Texas Enterprise Fund was initiated by Governor Rick Perry to spur job creation, supporting a variety of projects including infrastructure development, community development, job training programs and business incentives. Richardson has been one of the biggest benefactors of the fund with large grants to accelerate expansion for Countrywide’s new headquarters in Galatyn Park and to bring Texas Instruments’ recently completed semiconductor fabrication plant to Texas.

Another source of funding that has positively impacted Richardson is the Emerging Technology Fund. This program encourages research, innovation and advancement in the technological, medical and scientific fields. On Legislative Day, the Richardson delegation will focus on securing grants from the fund for numerous continuing ventures, many of which have been instrumental in establishing the city as the heart of the Telecom Corridor® area, and as a noted center for innovation.

Richardson representatives will also advocate their position on taxation caps, a hot button political issue. In opposing caps on local and appraisal taxes, the delegates will work closely with Richardson-based State Representative Fred Hill.

Richardson spokespersons also plant to seek additional funding for higher education, particularly funds that will drive research excellence at The University of Texas at Dallas. A key component of this effort is the delegation’s request that the Texas Legislature not to take away an educational institution’s authority to set its own tuition rates.

In addition to backing higher education, the Richardson representatives will look out for all students in the area by working to maintain the public school finance compromise reached at the recent special session. Delegates will push for high standards of accountability – especially standardized testing and ranking of school districts statewide.

Finally, the group will address quality of life issues such as water, transportation and air quality, all of which are key factors in the attraction and retention of leading businesses and the skilled workers who make Richardson a powerful economic engine for North Texas.

Action News is a monthly publication of the Richardson Chamber of Commerce Communications Department.

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