A Guide to the Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Correspondence and subject files, 1994-1997 #35873

Biographical/Historical Information

The office of the Secretary of Commerce and Resources was established in 1972 and was responsible for the areas of economic development and natural resources. In 1986 this secretariat was dissolved and split into two separate offices, the Secretary of Economic Development and the Secretary of Natural Resources. In 1994 the name of the office was changed from the Secretary of Economic Development to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

The Secretary of Commerce and Trade is appointed by the governor and serves as a member of his cabinet. The Secretary of Commerce and Trade's chief responsibility is to manage the direction of several state agencies that are concerned with the development of commerce and economic development throughout the Commonwealth. Agencies reporting to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade include: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Department of Business Assistance; Department of Economic Development; Department of Labor and Industry; Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy; Virginia Employment Commission; Virginia Housing Development Authority; Department of Professional and Occupational Regulations; Department of Housing and Community Development; Milk Commission; Department of Minority Business Enterprise; Department of Forestry; Virginia Racing Commission; Virginia Resources Authority; and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

Robert T. Skunda was appointed Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade by Governor Governor George Allen in December 1993. Secretary Skunda, a native of Michigan, graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Architecture and an MA in Urban Planning. Secretary Skunda is a past president of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce and past chairman of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Directly prior to being appointed Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Skunda was managing principal in the architectural and engineering planning firm of Dewberry and Dove. Robert Skunda resigned as Secretary of Commerce and Trade November 1, 1997, when he was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park.

Scope and Content Information

The records of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade are organized into the following series: I. Correspondence of the Secretary, 1994-1997; II. Opportunity Virginia, 1994-1997; III. Base Retention and Defense Adjustment (BRADA), 1994-1996; and IV. Community Development Block Grants, 1994-1997.

Series I. Correspondence of the Secretary, 1994 Jan-1997 Oct. This series contains incoming and outgoing correspondence on a variety of subjects. Arranged chronologically.

Series II. Opportunity Virginia, 1994-1997. This series contains records documenting Governor George Allen's Opportunity Virginia initiative and includes correspondence, reference files, press releases, speeches, meeting records, maps, newsletters, videos, reports and studies related to ecomonic development. The initiative was launched to promote economic growth and prosperity across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Arranged by subject or economic development region.

Series III. Base Retention and Defense Adjustment (BRADA) Commission, 1994-1996. This series contains records documenting the role of the Commonwealth of Virginia in potential military base closings within the state, and includes correspondence, reference files, reports, memoranda, meeting records, and state and federal publications pertaining to defense installation conversion and economic adjustment for affected sites. Arranged by subject.

Series IV. Community Development Block Grants, 1994-1997. This series documents grants for community improvements administered by the Dept. of Housing and Community Development. Includes grant applications, correspondence, approval letters, press releases and other related materials. Arranged chronologically.

Contents List

Series I: Correspondence of the Secretary, 1994 Jan-1997 Oct

Arranged chronologically.

Box 1 Folder 1
Correspondence, 1994 Jan-Feb
Box 1 Folder 2
Correspondence, 1994 Mar
Box 1 Folder 3
Correspondence, 1994 Apr
Box 1 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1994 May
Box 1 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1994 Jun
Box 1 Folder 6
Correspondence, 1994 Jul
Box 1 Folder 7
Correspondence, 1994 Aug
Box 1 Folder 8
Correspondence, 1994 Sep
Box 1 Folder 9
Correspondence, 1994 Oct
Box 1 Folder 10
Correspondence, 1994 Nov
Box 1 Folder 11
Correspondence, 1994 Dec
Box 1 Folder 12
Correspondence, 1995 Jan
Box 1 Folder 13
Correspondence, 1995 Feb
Box 1 Folder 14
Correspondence, 1995 Mar
Box 1 Folder 15
Correspondence, 1995 Apr
Box 1 Folder 16
Correspondence, 1995 May
Box 1 Folder 17
Correspondence, 1995 Jun
Box 1 Folder 18
Correspondence, 1995 Jul
Box 1 Folder 19
Correspondence, 1995 Aug
Box 1 Folder 20
Correspondence, 1995 Sep
Box 1 Folder 21
Correspondence, 1995 Oct
Box 1 Folder 22
Correspondence, 1995 Nov
Box 1 Folder 23
Correspondence, 1995 Dec
Box 1 Folder 24
Correspondence, 1996 Jan
Box 1 Folder 25
Correspondence, 1996 Feb
Box 1 Folder 26
Correspondence, 1996 Mar
Box 1 Folder 27
Correspondence, 1996 Apr
Box 1 Folder 28
Correspondence, 1996 May
Box 1 Folder 29
Correspondence, 1996 Jun
Box 1 Folder 30
Correspondence, 1996 Jul
Box 1 Folder 31
Correspondence, 1996 Aug
Box 1 Folder 32
Correspondence, 1996 Sep
Box 1 Folder 33
Correspondence, 1996 Oct
Box 1 Folder 34
Correspondence, 1996 Nov
Box 1 Folder 35
Correspondence, 1996 Dec
Box 1 Folder 36
Correspondence, 1997 Jan
Box 1 Folder 37
Correspondence, 1997 Feb
Box 1 Folder 38
Correspondence, 1997 Mar
Box 1 Folder 39
Correspondence, 1997 Apr
Box 1 Folder 40
Correspondence, 1997 May
Box 1 Folder 41
Correspondence, 1997 Jun
Box 1 Folder 42
Correspondence, 1997 Jul
Box 1 Folder 43
Correspondence, 1997 Aug
Box 1 Folder 44
Correspondence, 1997 Sep
Box 1 Folder 45
Correspondence, 1997 Oct

Series II. Opportunity Virginia, 1994-1997

Arranged by subject.

Box 2 Folder 46
Opportunity Virginia: Executive Order and Press Releases, 1994
Box 2 Folder 47
Opportunity Virginia: Speech, 1995 Jan 7
Box 2 Folder 48
Opportunity Virginia: Press Kit information, n.d.
Box 2 Folder 49
Opportunity Virginia: Presentation, 1994 Dec 7
Box 2 Folder 50
Opportunity Virginia: Steering Committee materials, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 51
Opportunity Virginia: Plan Distribution, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 52
Opportunity Virginia: REDAC maps, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 53
Opportunity Virginia: Work plans, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 54
Opportunity Virginia: Newsletters, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 55
Opportunity Virginia: Video Tour, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 56
Opportunity Virginia: REDAC Chairpersons - Mailing lists and letters, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 57
Opportunity Virginia: General Assembly and other relevant studies, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 58
Opportunity Virginia: Research, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 59
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 1, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 60
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 2, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 61
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 3, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 62
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 7, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 63
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 9, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 64
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 10, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 65
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 11, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 66
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 12, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 67
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 13, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 68
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 15, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 69
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 16, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 70
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 17, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 71
Opportunity Virginia: Correspondence - Region 18, 1994-1997
Box 2 Folder 72
Opportunity Virginia: Video, 1994-1997

Series III: Base Retention and Defense Adjustments (BRADA) Commission, 1994-1996

Arranged by subject.

Box 2 Folder 73
BRADA: Governor Allen's Tour of Hampton Roads Military Installations, 1994 Jun 17
Box 2 Folder 74
BRADA: Office of Economic Adjustment Conference - Defense Industry Cutbacks - Communities in Transition, 1994 Apr 6-7
Box 2 Folder 75
BRADA: Office of Economic Adjustment Conference - Defense Industry Cutbacks - Communities in Transition, 1994 Apr 6-7
Box 2 Folder 76
BRADA: Office of Economic Adjustment Conference - Defense Industry Cutbacks - Communities in Transition, 1994 Apr 6-7
Box 2 Folder 77
BRADA: Office of Economic Adjustment Conference - Defense Industry Cutbacks - Communities in Transition, 1994 Apr 6-7
Box 2 Folder 78
BRADA: Naval Air Station Oceana Tour, 1994 Oct 21
Box 2 Folder 79
BRADA: Visit/Briefing Fort Eustis, Naval Weapons Station - Yorktown and Norfolk Naval Shipyard, 1994 Dec 9
Box 2 Folder 80
BRADA: Visit/Briefing Fort Lee, Defense General Supply Center, and Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, 1995 Jan 23
Box 2 Folder 81
BRADA: Committee meetings, 1994-1995
Box 2 Folder 82
BRADA: Commission meetings - minutes and attachments, 1994-1995
Box 2 Folder 83
BRADA: U.S. Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission Regional Hearing, Baltimore, MD, 1995 May 4
Box 2 Folder 84
BRADA: Virginia Military Insatllations Background Information, 1995 Feb
Box 2 Folder 85
BRADA: Visit/Briefing Fort Lee, Defense General Supply Center, and Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, 1995 Jan 23
Box 3 Folder 86
BRADA: Information pertaining to Fort Lee visit, 1995 Jan 23
Box 3 Folder 87
BRADA: Community Response to proposed base closings - Kenner Army Community Hospital, 1995 May 4
Box 3 Folder 88
BRADA: Background and Committee information, 1994-1995
Box 3 Folder 89
BRADA: Committee briefings, notes and memoranda, 1994
Box 3 Folder 90
BRADA: Committee briefings, notes and memoranda, 1995-1996
Box 3 Folder 91
BRADA: Defense Conversions Initiatives, 1994-1995
Box 3 Folder 92
BRADA: Directory of Federal Reinvestment Initiative for People, Business, and Communities, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 93
BRADA: Adjusting to the Drawdown - Federal publication concerning defense conversion, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 94
BRADA: Governor's Guide to Economic Conversion, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 95
BRADA: A Profile of Defense Procurement Spending in Virginia, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 96
BRADA: Virginia Military Advisory Council (VMAC) - Meeting, 1995 May 30
Box 3 Folder 97
BRADA: Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment - Report, 1995
Box 3 Folder 98
BRADA: Assorted publications from the Virginia Employment Commissio concerning defense conversion and economic adjustment, 1994-1995
Box 3 Folder 99
BRADA: Industrial Modernization and Extension Service Information - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 100
BRADA: Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 101
BRADA: Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 102
BRADA: The Northern Virginia Regional Alliance - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 103
BRADA: Listing of Virginia's Prime Defense Contractors - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 104
BRADA: Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment - Report, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 105
BRADA: Proceedings from the Governor's Conference on Defense Conversion, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 106
BRADA: Army Basing Study on Base Closure and Realignment - COBRA reports, 1995
Box 3 Folder 107
BRADA: Department of the Army - Installation narratives, 1995
Box 3 Folder 108
BRADA: Department of the Army - Analyses and recommendations, 1995
Box 3 Folder 109
BRADA: New Technology Reinvestment Project Proposal (TRP), n.d.
Box 3 Folder 110
BRADA: Defense General Supply Center (DGSC) - Information, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 111
BRADA: Fort Lee, Petersburg - Information, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 112
BRADA: Guidebook to Federal Programs - publication, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 113
BRADA: Closure history - Installations in Virginia, n.d.
Box 3 Folder 114
BRADA: Fort Lee - BRAC brief, 1995
Box 3 Folder 115
BRADA: Governor's Commission on Defense Conversion and Economic Adjustment - Final report, 1994 Jan
Box 3 Folder 116
BRADA: Governor's Conference on Defense Conversion, n.d.