Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce also praised for 100 years of service during Legislative Day
AUSTIN — The Greater Taylor Chamber of Commerce represented Taylor and its businesses during Legislative Day at the Capitol this past week.
The Taylor group also got to enjoy a birthday party of sorts, as Rep.
Caroline Harris Davila, R-Round Rock, recognized the business-promotion organization’s 100th anniversary.
All area chambers of commerce from Williamson County were lauded Thursday, March 13, while also having a chance as groups or individuals to meet and network with legislators.
More than 30 Taylor Chamber and community members attended the event.
“I’m real proud of the size group that we had.
The legislators and lawmakers need to see our faces, they need to remember that there are human beings behind the things they do here, and that’s us,” said Taylor Chamber President Tia Stone.
State Sen. Charles Schwertner, R- Georgetown, addressed Taylor and the other Williamson County chambers about the work being done in the Senate this session, including proposals for property-tax relief and school choice.
“(The) Texas Legislature works different than Congress,” Schwertner said. “We do have a lot of bipartisanships, not just on local issues but in totality.”
Stone agreed. “Even though they come from different parties, the representatives from Williamson County really do work together for us,” she said.
Due to the death of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, whose body was moved to the Capitol earlier in the day to lie in state, Schwertner and other Senate and House representatives excused themselves to pay their respects.
Lawmakers, however, made sure their staff members were available to speak with the visitors from Williamson County.
Taylor Chamber members spoke with staff from Schwertner’s office, Rep. John Bucy III, D-Austin, and Rep. Terry Wilson, R- Georgetown.
Stone gave each staff member information about the Taylor, Texas Agenda for Economic Prosperity and discussed the issues affecting Taylor businesses and the community.
Carrie D’Anna, although not a Chamber member, came to the Capitol as both a Taylor resident and concerned parent.
“My kids are at the crossroads of many of the things the legislative session is making big decisions on,” she said, “and I got to explain how those issues impact my family every day.”
Meanwhile, Davila — noting she attended the chamber’s banquet in February celebrating its anniversary and read the resolution at that time — said she was pleased to honor Taylor and its Chamber on the House floor during the 89th legislative session.
“I was so privileged to present a resolution honoring the Taylor Chamber of Commerce for 100 years of excellence. Congratulations again,” she said.
On top of this honor, the Taylor Chamber is the only one in Williamson County to have earned a fivestar accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
“That’s something that only 2% of chambers of commerce receive across the nation,” Davila said. “For Taylor to have that distinction is a huge honor and it’s due to all of their hard work in representing their 360 members so well.”
The Chamber meets 11:45 a.m. the third Monday of every month at the Taylor Independent School District Events Center at 3101 N. Main St.
For more, visit business. taylorchamber.org.
