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These records are open for research but it may be necessary for an archivist to review Series II: Correspondence and Supporting Documentation files before they can be used by patrons for research purposes or before any copies of the records can be made. Privacy protected and other protected information is considered confidential and restricted from public access for 75 years. Types of materials restricted include: social security numbers and confidential proprietary business records.
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Records of the Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade, 1998-2014 (bulk 2010-2013). Accession 51124, State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Transferred on 8 January 2014 by the Office of Governor Robert F. McDonnell, Secretary of Commerce and Trade, 1111 East Broad Street, 4th Floor, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.
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 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 1993 the name of the office was changed from the Secretary of Economic Development to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade. James S. Cheng served as Secretary of Commerce and Trade during Governor Robert F. McDonnell's administration (2010-2014).
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. Some of the agencies reporting to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade include: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; 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 Port Authority; Virginia Racing Commission; and Virginia Resource Authority.
Records, 1998-2014 (bulk 2010-2013), of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade during the administration of Governor Robert F. McDonnell. The collection is housed in 49 boxes and includes agendas, briefings, brochures, calendars, clippings, correspondence, financial statements, itineraries, memorandum, newsletters, notes, programs, publications, reports, and other documents.
This collection is arranged into six series:
Series I: Appointment calendars, 2010-2013; Series II: Correspondence and Supporting Documentation, 2009-2013; Series III: Subject files, 1998-2013; Series IV: Development Projects and Initiatives files, 2009-2013; Series V: Governor's Opportunity Fund files, 2008-2013Series I: Appointment calendars, 2010-2013, is housed in seven boxes and arranged chronologically. This series includes the appointment calendars of Secretary James S. Cheng, 2010-2013, Deputy Secretary Carrie Roth, 2010, and Senior Economic Advisor Robert "Bob" Sledd, 2010. Included within the calendars are agendas, correspondence, invitations, memorandum, notes, and reports regarding specific appointments.
Series II: Correspondence and Supporting Documentation is housed in twelve boxes and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. Includes correspondence from various agencies under the Secretary, such as the Virginia Employment Commission (VEC); Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC); Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD); Virginia Resources Authority (VRA); Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy (DMME); Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA); and Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP). Also included is incoming and outgoing correspondence of Secretary Cheng and correspondence from Governor McDonnell. This series also includes decision tracking sheets and status updates.
Series III: Subject files is housed in nineteen boxes and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series includes correspondence, memorandum, minutes, newsletters, notes, programs, publications, reports, and surveys. Subjects include: budget, campus safety, economic development, Fort Monroe Authority, Governor's Commission on Economic and Job Creation, higher education, housing and homelessness, off shore wind and Outer Continental Shelf oil leasing, tax incentives, Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund, uranium mining, and Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority, among others.
Series IV: Development Projects and Initiatives is housed in three boxes and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series documents the projects and initiatives of the Secretary's office relating to development.
Series V: Governor's Opportunity Fund files is housed in three boxes and is arranged alphabetically by folder title. This series contains general correspondence, proposals and approved Governor's Opportunity Fund listings and files, pertaining to economic development during the Governor Robert McDonnell's Administration. The files usually contain fund requests from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and/or memorandums from Secretary Cheng to Governor McDonnell requesting approval of grants.
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.