Governor McDonnell's Cabinet Tours the State on "Virginia: Growing Strong" Tour
– Governor's Cabinet to Visit Every Region of the State May 7 - May 12 –

RICHMOND - In conjunction with Governor Bob McDonnell's "Virginia: Growing Strong" weeklong statewide tour taking place May 7 through May 12, Governor McDonnell's cabinet will travel across the state meeting with stakeholders and highlighting the successes achieved since the start of the McDonnell administration. Over the next week, cabinet secretaries will hold more than 50 events and meetings all across the Commonwealth.

Speaking about the cabinet's participation in the tour, Governor McDonnell commented, "Virginia is full of good news right now, with our unemployment rate down to the lowest in over three years, record agricultural products exported in 2011, blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay at a nearly 20-year high and new legislative initiatives passed this year that will increase access to a high-quality K-12 and higher education, bring new private-sector jobs to Virginia, make our streets safer, and make Virginia's government smaller and more efficient. This is good news that we want to share with all Virginians. That is why my cabinet is criss-crossing the Commonwealth, from Blackstone to Abingdon to Tangier Island, to talk about the 'Commonwealth of Opportunity' that we have today. While on the road, secretaries will celebrate all of the accomplishments Virginians have achieved over the last three years. They look forward to visiting with entrepreneurs, local officials, state employees, public safety personnel, members of the military and parents and children in every corner of the Commonwealth over the next week."

All of the events listed below are open to the press. Media is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information on the events listed, please contact the governor's press office. A schedule with the governor's events for the week is available here: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/News/viewRelease.cfm?id=1241

"Virginia: Growing Strong" Statewide Tour
Cabinet Schedule
May 7 - May 12

Monday, May 7, 2012

• 8 a.m. Governor McDonnell's Cabinet Kicks-Off Statewide Tour
  Cabinet Conference Room
  Patrick Henry Building (3rd Floor)
  Virginia State Capitol

• 11 a.m. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Unveils New Eastern Shore American Viticulture Area (AVA) Wine Tourism Signs at Chatham Vineyards
  9232 Chatham Road
  Machipongo

• 12 p.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Tours Oyster Restoration and Seawall Issues on Tangier Island and Meets with Local Officials
  Tangier Island

• 1 p.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Visits Kilmarnock Center of Rappahannock Community College
  447 N. Main St.
  Kilmarnock

• 3:30 p.m. Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas, Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker and Chief of Staff Martin Kent Visit Green Rock Correctional Center
  1704 Beverly Heights Road
  Chatham

• ALL DAY Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Participates in Agriculture and Forestry Economic Development Meetings on the Eastern Shore

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

• 9:15 a.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Visits Region 2000 Career Center at Central Virginia Community College
  3506 Wards Road
  Lynchburg

• 9:30 a.m. Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Attends Virginia Business Opportunity Fair as Part of Year of the Entrepreneur
  500 East Broad St.
  Richmond

• 9:30 a.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Participates in Largemouth Bass Restoration and Release
  Back Bay, Virginia Beach

• 10 a.m. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Terrie Suit Holds Military Service Member Spouse Round Table
  Fleet and Family Support Center
  Naval Station Norfolk

• 11 a.m. Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey Attends Lynchburg Energy Cluster and Modeling and Simulation Briefing
  TRAX International
  5061 Fort Ave.
  Lynchburg

• 12:15 p.m. During Teacher Appreciation Week, Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Tours P.L. Dunbar Middle School for Innovation
  1200 Polk St.
  Lynchburg

• 1 p.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Tours Pleasure House Point Conservation Easement Project
  Pleasure House Point
  Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach

• 3 p.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Attends Virginia Association of School Superintendents Conference
  Hotel Roanoke
  110 Shenandoah Ave.
  Roanoke

• 6:30 p.m. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng Addresses Medical Society of Northern Virginia Board Meeting
  7927 Jones Branch Drive
  Suite 3150
  McLean

• ALL DAY Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Participate in Agriculture and Forestry Economic Development Meetings in Central Virginia

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

• 8 a.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Visits Piedmont Governor's School - Martinsville Site; Views Demonstration by Award-Winning FIRST Robotics Team
  1425 Greensboro Road
  Martinsville

• 8 a.m. Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton Addresses Loudoun Chamber of Commerce Policy Maker Series
  Dulles Airport Marriott
  4520 Aviation Drive
  Dulles

• 9 a.m. Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Provides Welcome Remarks and Kicks-Off the 4th Annual Virginia Agroterrorism Conference
  The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center
  901 Prices Fork Road
  Blacksburg

• 9:30 a.m. On National Employee Recognition Day, Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Participates in Community Service with the Department of Human Resource Management
  William Byrd Community House
  224 S. Cherry St.
  Richmond

• 9:30 a.m.Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Visits Fort Pickett
  Blackstone

• 11 a.m. Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey Participates in Technology Leaders Roundtable Hosted by Blue Ridge Community College
  Advanced Manufacturing Center- BRCC Weyers Cave Campus
  One College Lane
  Weyers Cave

• 11:30 a.m. Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Participates in Employee Health Fair and Health Walk
  Darden Gardens
  Capitol Square
  Richmond

• 11:30 a.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Visits Piedmont Governor's School-Danville Site
  Institute of Advanced Learning and Research
  150 Slayton Ave.
  Danville

• 12 p.m. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Tours Greensville Correctional Center Re-Entry Program
  901 Correction Way
  Jarratt

• 12 p.m. Lieutenant Governor and Chief Jobs Creation Officer Bill Bolling Addresses Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitor's Bureau Annual Luncheon
  Hotel Roanoke
  110 Shenandoah Ave.
  Roanoke

• 1:15 p.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Tours Sustainable Energy and Technology Center (SENTECT)
  Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
  150 Slayton Ave.
  Danville

• 1:30 p.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Tours Potential Civil War Battlefield Acquisition Project
  Clarke County

• 3 p.m. On Mental Health Awareness Day, Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel Visits Henrico Area Mental Health and Developmental Services
  10299 Woodman Road
  Glen Allen

Thursday, May 10, 2012

• 7:30 a.m. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng Holds "Donuts with Jim" as Part of Year of the Entrepreneur
  1 Heartwood Circle
  Abingdon

• 9 a.m. Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey Attends Technology Capability Briefing
  NSWC Dahlgren Division
  Dahlgren

• 9:30 a.m. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel Attends Charlottesville Health and Human Resources Summit
  City Council Chambers
  605 E. Main St.
  2nd Floor
  Charlottesville

• 10 a.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash and Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng Tour Virginia High School
  1200 Long Crescent Drive
  Bristol

• 10:30 a.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Visits Department of Environmental Quality Regional Office
  4411 Early Road
  Harrisonburg

• 11 a.m. Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Volunteers at Abingdon Food Bank to Promote the First Annual Governor's Bowl
  Feeding America Southwest Virginia: Abingdon Distribution Center
  21452 Gravel Lake Road
  Abingdon

• 12 p.m. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Attends Alexandria Police and Sheriff's Departments' Memorial Service
  2932 King St.
  Alexandria

• 1:30 p.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Participates in Ribbon Cutting at Wildlife Center of Virginia's New Eagle Facility
  800 South Delphine Ave.
  Waynesboro

• 2 p.m.; Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Tours Department of General Services Surplus Property Warehouse and Store
  Wytheville Surplus Store/Distribution Center
  800 E. Main St.
  Wytheville

• 2 p.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Tours Second Chance Learning Center
  14 Westwood Medical Park
  Bluefield

• 3 p.m. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel Visits Boys & Girls Club of Central Virginia
  1000 Cherry Ave.
  Charlottesville

• 6:30 p.m. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Attends Commonwealth Attorneys' Services Council Top Gun XX Banquet - Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Top Gun Training Program
  Holiday Inn Patriot
  3032 Richmond Road (Route 60)
  Williamsburg

• 7 p.m. Lieutenant Governor and Chief Jobs Creation Officer Bill Bolling and Secretary of Technology Jim Duffey Attend Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council Awards Banquet
  Hotel Roanoke
  110 Shenandoah Ave.
  Roanoke

• ALL DAY Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Participates in Agriculture and Forestry Economic Development Meetings in Southside Virginia

Friday, May 11, 2012

• 9 a.m. Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel Tours Catawba Hospital
  5525 Catawba Hospital Drive
  Catawba

• 9 a.m. Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton Delivers Keynote Address at Grand Opening of Washington Gas Springfield Center
  6801 Industrial Road
  Springfield

• 10 a.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash Gives Commencement Address at Jefferson College of Health Sciences
  101 Elm Ave. Southeast
  Roanoke

• 10 a.m. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Attends Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting Training Exercise
  Richmond International Airport
  Beulah Road near the Virginia National Guard Armory
  Richmond
  **Media interested in covering this event must RSVP by 5 p.m. on Thursday to Jeff.Caldwell@Governor.Virginia.Gov

• 10:30 a.m. Secretary of Natural Resources Doug Domenech Visits Staunton River State Park to View Tornado Recovery and Reconstruction.
  Scottsburg

• 11 a.m. Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas Visits Kerma Medical as Part of Year of the Entrepreneur
  215 Suburban Drive
  Suffolk

• 1 p.m. Secretary of Education Laura Fornash and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel Visit Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute
  2 Riverside Circle
  Roanoke

• 3 p.m. Secretary of Commerce and Trade Jim Cheng Addresses Tom Tom Festival as Part of Year of the Entrepreneur
  The Haven
  112 West Market St.
  Charlottesville

• 3 p.m. Secretary of Public Safety Marla Graff Decker Visits Henrico Juvenile Court Service Unit
  4201 E. Parham Road
  Henrico

• 4 p.m. Secretary of Transportation Sean Connaughton Attends Buckland Mills Battlefield Event
  Prince William

• ALL DAY Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore Participates in Agriculture and Forestry Economic Development Meetings in Tidewater

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