The Constituent Correspondence provide the citizens concerns and the efforts of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade to carry out the vision of the Warner administration to increase commerce and trade development in the Commonwealth. The letters cover a variety of topics over the four year time frame. One of the main topics of interest that resulted in many letters to the Secretary include the proposed introduction of Senate Bill 260 animal cruelty legislation requiring rule changes for the definition of an animal shelter. The new definition would have required animal foster homes be included in the definition of "animal shelters" and place limits on the number of animals that can be allowed in a foster home. The bill would have also require a fee payment for each foster care animal.

There are many request for extension of unemployment claim benefits to citizens of the Commonwealth impacted by the economic downturn from the attack on September 11, 1999. The correspondence also reflect people writing to the Governor requesting assistance with other unemployment claim problems and the Governor's office transferring those request to the Secretary of Commerce and Trade.

The series provides copies of proclamations issued to counties suffering due to drought conditions and resulting in receiving federal aid for the troubled communities. Price gouging complaints by citizens that happened during and after Hurricane Isabel involving charges for commodities and clean up services.

This series provides correspondence with prospective companies and organizations interested in participating in the Virginia Economic Development Partnership program. 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 features correspondence with Virginia's representatives, Mayors, and County Supervisors on success of such an enterprise. There is documentation on the cost of various state officials travels to France to study the Paris France Air show.

There is documentation of the administrations 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 provides the incoming and outgoing general correspondence, memorandum, and working notes of Secretary of Commerce and Trade, Michael J. Schewel. The correspondence features thank you letters to the Secretary for his work on bringing new jobs to local communities and cities of the Commonwealth by using the Governor's Opportunity Fund. There are thank you letters from the Secretary to industry leaders for working cooperatively with the Secretary. There are congratulatory correspondence from members of the business community on the selection of Michael Schewel as Secretary of Commerce and Trade. There are correspondence between Secretary Schewel and members of the General Assembly regarding progress of various projects implemented by the Secretary.

This series offers information on companies and prospective companies committing to establishing their businesses in the Commonwealth. There are correspondence and memorandums that provide some of previous Governor James Gilmore and his staff's contacts and Governor Mark Warner's staff with these prospective companies. The actual company name involved in transactions with the Commonwealth may not be given in the title of each file due to the apparent sensitive negotiations with companies regarding possible tax benefits and or funds transferred for the purpose of having their business operations move to and employ citizens of Virginia.

The records also reflect the historical background of companies, capital health and investments amounts and benefits that are obtained by having the businesses relocation to the Commonwealth.