Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Roger E. Christman and Joanne Porter
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:
I. Constituent Correspondence, 2001-2006 II. Office of the Secretary, 2001-2006 Subseries A. Records of Secretary Michael J. Schewel, 2001-2006 Subseries B. Records of Deputy Secretary Matt Erskine, 2001-2005 Subseries C. Records of John Sternlicht, 2003-2005 Subseries D. Records of Special Assistant Sarah Cohen, 2002-2005 III. Planning and Budget Files, 2002-2005 Subseries A. Budget Files, 2002-2005 Subseries B. Legislative Files, 2002-2005 IV. Assigned State Agencies, 1994-2006 V. Advisory Boards, Councils and Commissions, 1998-2005 VI. Development Projects and Initiatives Files, 2001-2005 VII. Company Files-Prospects and Development, 1994-2005 VIII. Governor's Opportunity Fund Files, 2001-2006 IX. Special Projects-Virginia Economic Development Partnership, 1994-2002 (bulk 2001-2002)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.
Notable documents filed under Briefing Binders include: Report of the Issue Working Group, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, 17 December 2001, prepared by Patt Gottschalk, Adele Johnson, Hugh Keogh, Danny LeBlanc, Martha Moore, Bob Templin and staff member Grant Neely (b21, f3); King William Reservoir Project Decision Memorandum, 2003 (b21, f4); and Transition Briefings from each agency under the Secretary of Commerce and Trade, highlighting budget and key issues, 2002 (b21, f10).
Notable documents filed under Cabinet Meetings include: Schewel's handwritten notes from Cabinet meetings, 2002-2003 (b22, f4); and cabinet meeting follow-up email's from Chief of Staff Bill Leighty (b22, f7-8).
Notable documents filed under Subject Files include: Schewel's handwritten notes from meetings he attended, 2002-2005 (b24, f5-6); Secretary of Commerce and Trade's Initiatives, 2002-2004 (b25, f4); and the creation of Secretary of Agriculture, 2002-2004 (b25, f6).
The Correspondence-Chronlogical division contains copies of all out-going correspondence of Secretary Schewel as well as letters written by the Governor in which the Secretary was copied. Arranged in reverse chronlogical order (2006-2002). Subjects include: Governor's Opportunity Fund grants, Virginia Investment Parternship grants, Virginia Employment Commission, Small, Women, and Minority Business initiative (SWAM), and Virginia Community Development Block Grant Program (VCDBG). Notable correspondence include: memorandum from Schewel to Bob Bloxom, Secretary of Agriculture, highlighting issues with the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 3 January 2005 (b26, f4); memorandum from Schewel to Governor Mark R. Warner through Chief of Staff William H. Leighty, regarding the Commonwealth's Four-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan, 22 April 2002 (b28, f5); memorandum from Schewel to Chief of Staff William H. Leighty, on status of Avian Flu control, 18 April 2002 (b28, f5); and memorandum from Schewel to Chief of Staff William H. Leighty, on drought conditions in Virginia, 15 April 2002 (b28, f5).
The Correspondence-General division contains general correspondence, memorandums, and working notes of Secretary Schewell. Arranged in chronological order (2002-2003) and in reverse chronlogical order (2006-2004), the correspondence include: thank you letters to the Secretary for his work on bringing new jobs to local communities who have received funding from the Governor's Opportunity Fund; congratulatory correspondence from members of the business communtiy on Schewel's appointment as Secretary of Commerce and Trade; and correspondence with members of the General Assembly regarding projects implemented by the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. Notable documents include: menorandum to Schewel from Chris Lloyd, former staffer in the Secretary of Commerce and Trade during the administrations of George Allen and Doug Wilder, reviewing Mark Warner's economic development promises, 3 January 2002 (b14, f1); memorandum from Schewel to Bill Leighty, Chief of Staff, listing six controversal issues from the Commerce and Trade Secretariat, 15 April 2005 (b29, f4); and a Summary of Major Issues in 2004 for each Commerce and Trade agency, 29 April 2004 (b30, f4).
The Speeches division contains prepared remarks delivered by Secretary Schewel at meetings, conventions, conferences and public events from 2002 to 2005. The speeches are primarily in reverse chronological order. However many are not dated; original order maintained.
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.
Subjects found in the Agency and Subject Files division include: Virginia's response to the Avian Influenza outbreak in the Commonwealth in 2002 (b32, f2).
The Thank You Notes division is arranged in chronlogical order and consists of incoming thank you notes to Erskine. The Correspondence-Chronological division consists of copies of Erskine's outgoing correspondence only.
The Special Projects division is arranged in alphabetical order. Subjects include: Virginia Biotechnology Initiative, Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), Coordinated Economic Relief Centers (CERC), drought, Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Export Strategy Task Force, Jobs for Virginia initiative, Small Business Initiative, Virginia Tourism, and Virginia Wine Industry.
Notable documents filed under Special Projects include: report titled "Doubling Net Receipts in Virginia Agriculture" by the Governor's Agriculture Net Receipts Working Group, 2003 (b35, f12); memorandum to Michael J. Schewel from Kendra Shifflett, Dept. of Planning and Budget, providing information on the cost of establishing the Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, 27 June 2003 (b35, f14); Cabinet Meeting Notes, 2002-2005 (b37, f14-15); impact of drought on Virginia, 2002 (b39, f17); Education Policy Briefing-Office of the Goveror-Elect, Report of the Special Committee for Education, 2001 (b40, f6); Erskine's briefing book for European Marketing and Tourism Trip, June 2005 (b40, f8); meeting notes of the Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Export Strategy Task Force (b40, f13); transition overview materials, November 2001 (b41, f9); Health and Human Resources Policy Briefing, Office of the Governor-Elect, 2001 (b41, f14); Governor Warner's Trade Mission to Mexico briefing book, 9-12 November 2003 (b43, f17); notes on Phillip Morris relocating to Richmond, 2005 (b46, f12); and documents on the creation of the Warner Administration's Small Business Initiative, 2003-2004 (b47).
The Events division is arranged in chronlogical order. These records document economic development events Erskine attended and includes copies of speeches/talking points/remarks he made.
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.
Subjects found in the Projects and Initiatives-Alphabetical section include: Virginia Economic Strike Force, Economic Development Strategic Plan ("One Virginia-One Future"), Electricitiy Deregulation, Export Task Force, Higher Education Summitt, Housing, Virginia Horse Center, NASCAR Hall of Fame, Olmstead implementation, Virginia Tech Economic Development, Water, and Wine.
Notable documents filed under Projects and Initiatives-Alphabetical include: 25 January 2002 memorandum from Michael J. Schewel to Governor Warner outlining a proposal as to how the Economic Crisis Strike Force would be deployed (b84, f6); Blueprint for the Economic Crisis Strike Force-Draft, 18 February 2002 (b84, f6); 2 January 2002 memorandum from James W. Dyke, Jr. at McGuireWoods to Secretary of Commerce and Trade-Designate, Michael J. Schewel providing a status report on baseball, Emerging Business Forum and the 2012 Olympics (b85, f1); meeting materials and notes for One Virginia, One Future Steering Committee Meeting, 8 October 2002 (b85, f3); meeting materials, notes and invitations for One Virginia, One Future Steering Committee Meeting, 14 August 2002 (b85, f4); 23 December 2003 memorandum from Bill Murray to Governor Warner outling electricity deregulation and associated issues that may be addressed druing the 2003 legislative session (b86, f1); 8 October 2003 memorandum from Michael J. Schewel to Bob Blue on Schewel's thoughts on the proposed rate cap extension (b86, f2); meeting notes and memorandums related to rate cap extension, 2003-2004 (b86, f5); agenda's meeting notes and documents related to Governor Warner's export task force on Virginia Agriculture and Forestry products, 2004 (b87, f3-4); meeting and follow-up materials related to the 20 May 2004 Forestry Industry Summit (b87, f6); copy of Virginians Racing for the NASCAR Hall of Fame Proposal, May 2005 and copy of Economic Impact of NASCAR Hall of Fame on Henrico County, Richmond Metro Area and the State of Virginia, 21 June 2005 (b90, f6 and b91, f1); and 9 February 2003 memorandum from Maurcie Jones to Governor Warner proposing the creation of an Urban Policy Task Force (b94, f2).
Subjects found in the Projects and Initiatives-Regional section include: Rural Virginia Prosperity Commission.
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.
Notable Subjects found in the Company Files-Warner Administration section include: Governor Warner's meeting with Ford Motor Company officials in Norfolk in 2003 (b100, 13); Governor Warner's meeting with Jet Blue executives in 2003 (b101, f1); and records related to Philip Morris' relocation to Richmond, 2003-2005 (b101, f9-11).
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.