DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,220

SPRING FORD INDUSTRIES
CHILHOWIE, VIRGINIA

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
eligibility 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 on April 1, 2002 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Spring Ford Industries,
Chilhowie, Virginia. The workers at the subject facility cut and
sewed fabric as part of a highly integrated t-shirt production
process and shipped the final product.
The investigation revealed that corporate-wide sales,
production, and employment declined absolutely from 2000 to 2001.
The subject facility closed in March of 2002.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that United States
aggregate imports of t-shirts increased during the relevant period.
Workers of the subject firm were previously certified eligible
to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance, petition number
TA-W-36,949, which expired January 19, 2002.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at the subject
facility contributed importantly to the decline in sales or
production and to the total or partial separation of workers of
that facility. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I
make the following certification:
"All workers of Spring Ford Industries, Chilhowie, Virginia,
engaged in employment related to the production of t-shirts
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after January 20, 2002, 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 3rd day of July, 2002.


/s/ Linda G. Poole
______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance