Governor Warner Announces Steering Committee And Public Hearing Schedule For Economic Development Strategic Plan

RICHMOND - Governor Mark R. Warner today announced the appointment of the steering committee for the creation of his economic development strategic plan. One Virginia – One Future: Governor Warner’s Economic Development Strategic Plan will examine critical economic development issues facing Virginia and identify innovative strategies to address those issues.

“The rewards of a successful economic development strategy include job creation, an increase in the tax base, and an improved quality of life for Virginians,” said Governor Warner. “The Commonwealth needs to focus on economic development now more than ever to combat the recent recession. I appreciate the commitment that Steering Committee members are making to Virginia as they work to develop a plan to strengthen our economy."

The Steering Committee will be chaired by Secretary of Commerce and Trade Michael J. Schewel and focus on seven broad goals as it develops the strategic plan: 

• Maintain and utilize Virginia’s strong business climate to create new economic opportunities for all Virginians in an internationally competitive environment.
• Provide effective workforce training programs to create and maintain a competitive 21st century workforce in Virginia.
• Strengthen Virginia’s traditional economic sectors and existing businesses.
• Support technology businesses and other emerging and developing sectors of the economy, which are of critical importance to the Commonwealth’s global competitiveness.
• Concentrate economic development efforts on areas of greatest need to help reduce economic disparity and increase the prosperity of all Virginians.
• Strengthen the market position of Virginia’s regions as travel destinations for national and international visitors.
• Encourage the growth of Virginia’s economy through support of exports by Virginia companies and other forms of international trade.

Seven regional meetings will be held around Virginia in September to seek public input on the strategy. Each meeting will be held from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:

• September 9 - Manassas - Northern Virginia Community College
• September 10 - Richmond - General Assembly Building, House Room C
• September 17 - Irvington - The Tides Inn
• September 19 - Richlands - Southwest Virginia Community College Center
• September 20 - South Boston - Southern Virginia Continuing Education Center
• September 26 - Weyer's Cave - Criminal Justice Training Center
• September 27-Lynchburg - Central Virginia Community College

To attend any of these public meetings, make your reservation by calling 804-371-8106 or emailing strategicplanrsvp [at] yesvirginia.org and include your contact information and the meeting date and location in your message. Because space is limited, it is necessary to make your reservation at least one week before the meeting you wish to attend. 

If you cannot attend one of the regional meetings, you may submit concerns and issues directly to the Steering Committee at strategicplaninput [at] yesvirginia.org. One Virginia - One Future: Governor Warner's Economic Development Strategic Plan will be presented in December 2002. Additional information on the development of One Virginia-One Future will be posted on the website of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade at www.commerce.state.va.us.

One Virginia - One Future Steering Committee Members:

• The Honorable Michael J. Schewel – Chairman, Secretary of Commerce and Trade
• The Honorable Sandra D. Bowen, Secretary of Administration
• The Honorable Whittington Clement, Secretary of Transportation
• The Honorable John W. Marshall, Secretary of Public Safety
• The Honorable W. Tayloe Murphy, Jr., Secretary of Natural Resources
• The Honorable George Newstrom, Secretary of Technology
• The Honorable Anita A. Rimler, Secretary of the Commonwealth
• The Honorable Belle S. Wheelen, Secretary of Education
• The Honorable Jane H. Woods, Secretary of Health and Human Resources
• Douglas Adams of Winchester, the Adams Companies
• Lynda Sharp Anderson of Richmond, CEO of The Metropolitan Business League 
• Jim Bacon of Richmond, Publisher of Bacon’s Rebellion and vanewswire.com
• Peter Barris of Reston, Managing General Partner of New Enterprise Associates 
• Connie Bawcum of Stafford, Principal of B & W Partners 
• The Honorable Don Beyer Jr. of Alexandria, CEO of Don Beyer Volvo 
• Tim Booker of Washington, President and CEO of MindFinders Inc. 
• Joe Bouknight of Danville, Vice President for Human Resources of Dan River, Inc. 
• Jim Cheng of McLean, President of Computer and High Tech Management 
• Tommy Davis of Richmond, President of TK Davis Construction, Inc. 
• Tom DePasquale of Alexandria, CEO and President of Outtask 
• Wendy Drucker of Newport News, Executive Vice President of Drucker & Falk LLC 
• Frank Ching Seng Fang of Newport News, President and CEO of C & F Enterprises 
• Randy Frazier of Salem, President and CEO of R. Frazier, Inc. 
• Catherine Giordano of Virginia Beach, President and CEO of Knowledge Information Solutions, Inc. 
• John Gregory of Richmond, President of Richmond Regional Labor Council 
• Bruce Hiatt of Richmond, President of the Virginia Farm Bureau 
• Jack Hite of Clarksville
• Ken Johnson of Richmond, President of Johnson Inc. 
• Allen Jones of Hampton, CEO of Dominion Physical Therapy & Associates 
• Amy Lampe of Martinsville, Vice President, Finance for Tacoma, Inc. 
• Cynthia Lawrence of Roanoke, Founder, President and Owner of Design Marketing 
• Jack Loeb of Roanoke, President of Loeb Construction Company 
• Ronnie Matthews of Newport News, President, Publisher & Owner of Daily Press 
• Nathan Miller of Harrisonburg, Managing Partner for Miller & Earle 
• Hiawatha Nicely, Jr. of Dublin, President, CEO & Chairman of CNB Holdings, Inc. 
• Rahul Prakash of McLean, President of Telecom Ventures 
• Wayne Purcell of Blacksburg, Coordinator, Rural Economic Analysis Program, Professor with the Department of Agriculture and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech 
• Rita Ricks of Richmond, President of Mirror Enterprise, Inc. 
• Tim Robertson of Virginia Beach, CEO of Bay Shore Enterprises 
• Frank Shortall of Glen Allen, Site Acquisition Manager for Suncom/Triton PCS 
• Mark Sisisky of Richmond, Managing Partner for Carpin Asset Management LLC 
• David Speck of Alexandria, Managing Director for Wachovia Securities 
• Dorothy Wood of Virginia Beach, President & CEO of JDW Construction 
• W. Randy Wright of Norfolk, President & CEO of Randy Wright Printing, Co. 
• April Young of Reston, Senior Vice President and Manager of Comercia Bank