DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,183

THE CHALLENGE MACHINERY COMPANY
GRAND HAVEN, MICHIGAN

Certification Regarding Eligibility
to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness
Act of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of an investigation regarding certification
of eli-gibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on May 7, 2001, filed on behalf of workers at The
Challenge Machinery Company, Grand Haven, Michigan. The workers
produced paper cutters and paper drills.
Investigation findings revealed that the subject plant
experienced declines in sales and levels of employment.
The investigation also showed that United States imports of
"cutting machines of all kinds used for making up paper pulp,
paper or paperboard" (HTS 84411000) increased by 19 percent
during 2000 as compared with 1999.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment Assistance has
been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-
4785). A determination on that petition will be made
concurrently with this determination.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investi-
gation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or
directly competitive with those produced by The Challenge
Machinery Company, Grand Haven, Michigan, contributed
importantly to the decline in sales and production and to the
total or partial separation of workers of the subject firm. In
accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following
certification:


"All workers at The Challenge Machinery Company, Grand
Haven, Michigan, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after April 17, 2000,
through two years from the date of certification, are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 30th day of April 2002.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
__________________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer
Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance