Collection is open to research.
Privacy protected and confidential information is restricted from public access for 75 years per Code of Virginia 42.1-78. If redaction was not an option, the entire document was sealed, but not removed from the collection. Sealed information may include, but is not limited to: attorney-client privileged documents, social security numbers, and confidential proprietary business records.
Records of the Virginia Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, 1998-2006 (bulk 2002-2005), [cite specific Accession number]. State Records Collection, Library of Virginia
Office of the Secretary of Education, Patrick Henry Building, 1111 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219. Accession 42293 transferred 5 December 2005 and accessioned on 6 December 2005; Accession 42417 transferred on 18 January 2006 and accessioned on 19 January 2006.
In 1970, the Governor's Management Commission Study recommended the creation of six "Deputy Governors" assist the Chief Executive in his managerial duties, compatible functions of government were grouped under these administrative heads, who would serve as the Governors top management team or "secretariats," as they are called now. The General Assembly in 1972 created six Secretariats positions initially. As government reorganized, that number fluctuated when government agencies expanded or consolidated.
The Secretary of Commerce and Trade oversees the economic, community, and workforce development of the Commonwealth. During the Administraton of Governor Mark R. Warner (2002-2006) fourteen agencies and boards reported to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade: Board of Accountancy, Department of Business Assistance, Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Labor and Industry, Department of Minority Business Enterprise, Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Virginia Racing Commission, Virginia Resource Authority, and Virginia Tourism Corporation.
On 28 December 2001, Governor-elect Mark R. Warner named Michael Schewel as Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Schewel was a former commissioner of the Virginia Housing Development Authority and had previously worked as head of corporate law for McGuireWoods, LLP. Schewel served until the end of Warner's term in January 2006 and returned to McGuireWoods.
The Records of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade are housed in 104 boxes. The collection is arranged into nine (9) series. Series have been designated for: I. Constituent Correspondence; II. Office of the Secretary; III. Planning and Budget Files; IV. State Agencies; V. Advisory Boards, Council and Commissions; VI. Development Projects and Initiatives Files; VII. Company Files-Prospects and Development; VIII. Governor's Opportunity Fund; and IX. Special Projects-Virginia Economic Development Partnership. These records include agreements, reports, correspondence, memorandums, budget documents, agendas, handouts, invitations, and speeches. This collection documents the work of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade under Governor Mark R. Warner.
This collection is arranged into the following series:
The Constitutent Correspondence series is housed in 14 archival boxes and is arranged numerically by constituent correspondence number (which is roughly by chronological order by last action taken). This series documents constituent correspondence received by the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade during Governor Mark Warner's administration. This series contains correspondence from various constituents to Governor Mark W. Warner, along with a copy of Michael J. Schewel's letter in response, and a page from the people summary database which includes the name, address, and phone number of the correspondent. Each letter in this series contains a unique tracking number assigned by the Governor's Office Constituent Services. Records are arranged by outgoing tracking number. Some of the notable correspondence in this series relates to the following topics: changes in the definition of an animal shelter to include animal foster homes (2002 Senate Bill 260), requests for extensions of unemployment benefits to Virginians impacted by the economic downturn in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, requests for assistance with unemployment claims problems, federal disaster aid for agricultural damage caused by drought, and price gouging complaints for commodoties and clean up services after Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
Series is arranged into four subseries. Subseries have been designated for: A. Records of Secretary Michael J. Schewel, 2001-2006; B. Records of Deputy Secretary Matt Erskine, 2001-2005; C. Records of John Sternlicht, 2003-2005; and D. Records of Special Assistant Sarah Cohen, 2002-2005. The correspondence and documents in this series pertain to many of the Secretariat's agencies and boards, as well as to general economic developement related subjects. The series consists of agendas, agreements, correspondence, handouts, itineraries, memorandum, notes, presentations, reports, speeches, talking points and resumes.
This subseries is housed in 12 boxes and is divided into 11 sections: Briefing Binders, Appointments, Cabinet Meetings, Meetings with Congressional Delegation, General Assembly Presentations, Subject Files, Correspondence-Chronological, Correspondence-General, Speeches, Calendar and COOP Certifications.
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This subseries is housed in 21 boxes and is divided into 5 sections: Agency and Subject Files, Thank You Notes, Correspondence-Chronological, Special Projects and Events.
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This subseries is housed in 1 box and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Records document the special projects of John Sternlicht.
This subseries is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged alphabetically by subject. Subjects include: Agriculture and Forestry Expo Task Force and Virginia Works.
Contains budget and legislative records created and maintained by the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Series is arranged into two subseries. Subseries have been designated for Budget Files and Legislative Files. Original order and titles of the files were maintained. This series contains budget documents, correspondence, e-mail, briefings, legislation, notes, presentations, plans and reports.
This subseries is housed in 3 boxes and is arranged by budget cycle. Subdivisions are: 2002-2004 Biennial Budget and 2004-2006 Biennial Budget Issues. Notable documents include: Agency Contingency Budget Reduction Plans (7, 11, 15%) for Secretary of Commerce and Trade agencies, September-October 2002 (b56, f8-9 and b57, b1); and budget development documents for FY2002-2004 (b57, f2-3). Subseries contains agendas, budget documents, correspondence, memorandums, legislation, presentations, notes, handouts, talking points, e-mail, and reports.
This subseries is housed in 2 boxes and is arranged by legislative session. Contains proposed legislation related to Commerce and Trade agencies. Subseries contains agendas, budget documents, correspondence, memorandums, legislation, presentations, notes, talking points, e-mail and reports.
Series is divided into to subgroups: Agency Weekly Reports and Correspondence and Supporting Documentation from Commerce and Trade state agencies. The Agency Weekly Reports are housed in 2 boxes and are arranged alphabetically by agency by agency and chronologically therein. Reports were submitted each week by agency heads from the Board of Accountancy, Dept. of Business Assistance, Dept. of Housing and Community Development, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Dept. of Minority Business Enterprise, Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation, State Milk Commission, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Virginia Racing Commission, Virginia Resources Authority, Virginia Tourism Corporation, and Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. The Secretary than used this information to compile his weekly report sent to the Governor and Chief of Staff (see accession 42624). The level of detail varied for each agency. Each report contains information on legislation, items requiring immediate attention of the Governor or Secretary, Governor's initiatives/special projects, agency matters/operations, events/agency visits, audits/investigations/compliance, stakeholder issues and pending decisions.
The Correspondence and Supporting Documentation from Commerce and Trade state agencies are housed in 16 boxes. Records are from the following agencies: Board of Accountancy, Dept. of Business Assistance, Dept. of Housing and Community Development, Dept. of Labor and Industry, Dept. of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Dept. of Minority Business Enterprise, Dept. of Professional and Occupational Regulation, Virginia Economic Development Partnership, Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Housing Development Authority, Virginia Racing Commission, Virginia Resources Authority, Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission and Virginia Tourism Corporation. Notable topics include: Virginia trade missions and Jamestown 2007. Also included in this subgroup are records related to the Small, Women and Minority (SWAM) procurement program initiated by Governor Warner.
This series is composed of files pertaining to various boards, councils, commissions and projects with which the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade was involved, both inside and outside the Secretariat. The files contain correspondence, e-mail, memorandums, notes, presentation, reports, and other working documents. The series is housed in 3 boxes and is arranged alphabetically.
Notable subjects include: American Civil War Center in Richmond; Virginia's attempts to lure a Major League Baseball team to the Commonwealth (Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority); development and implementation of Governor Warner's Biotechnology Initiative; and the development of Governor Warner's Workforce Initiative.
This series is housed in 16 boxes and is divided into 2 sections: alphabetical and regional. This series documents the projects and initiatives of the Secretary's office relating to development.
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The Company Files-Prospects and Development series is housed in four archival boxes and is divided into two sections: Allen and Gilmore Administration (accession 42293) and Warner Administration (accession 42417). The records are arranged alphabetically within each section. This series contains reference material pertaining to economic development during the Governor Mark Warner's Administration. It includes information on the companies who were business prospects, as well as economic materials.
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The Governor's Opportunity Fund Files series is housed in 6 archival boxes and is arranged alphabetically. This series contains general correspondence, proproals and approved Governor's Opportunity Fund listings and files, pertaining to economic development during the Governor Mark Warner's Administration. The files usually contain fund requests from the Virginia Economic Developement Partnership and/or memorandums from Secretary Schewel to Governor Warner requsting approval of grants. In a few instances, the name of the company is not listed; only the project's code name is used (ex. Project Spyglass). Also included are projects funded by the Virginia Investment Partnership, Tobacco Regional Opportunity Fund, or some combination.
The Governor's Opportunity Fund is a pool of discretionary funds available to the Governor to secure a business location or expansion project in Virginia. Grants are awarded to localities on a local matching basis with the expectation that the grant will result in a favorable location decision for the Commonwealth. The Virginia Investment Partnership is a discretionary performance incentive to encourage continued capital investment by Virginia companies.
This series contains correspondence with prospective companies and organizations interested in participating in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership program during the Allen, Gilmore and Warner administrations. The records detail plans, concerns and questions regarding the feasibility of government fund investments in special projects/events and companies. The Aviation World's Fair highlights concerns with the success and cost of this project and includes correspondence with Virginia's representatives, mayors, and county supervisors on the success of such an enterprise. There are also travel records that doucment the cost incured by the state to send various state officials to France to study the Paris Air Show.
This series also documents Virginia's efforts to obtain the 2012 Olympics for Washington D.C. There is correspondence between the Secretary Michael J. Schewel and leaders of the business community and Governor Mark Warner's highlighting efforts to secure the Olympics for the District. There are discussions of costs, bid proposals and the overall impact to the entire community.
There is a complete record for the memorandum of agreement and understanding between the Commonwealth of Virginia and Volvo-GM Heavy Truck Corporation to create jobs in the state of Virginia. This agreement dates back to Governor George Allen's administration and outlines the various relationship changes based on economic conditions. The agreement stipulated certain conditions must be met in order for the company to receive state funding, subsequent layoff announcements presented a problem for the Commonwealth and Pulaski County, the home of the Volvo-GM factory.
This series is arranged alphabetically by company or special event.