DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,294

NORTHWIND OUTDOOR COMPANY
OVERTON'S INC.
FERGUS FALLS, MINNESOTA

Negative Determination 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:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers
in the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision
thereof, have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or
appropriate subdivision have contributed importantly to
the separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.



The investigation was initiated on February 25, 2002, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Northwind
Outdoor Company, Overton's Inc., Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Workers
produced dog beds and windsock decoys.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The subject firm has not imported any like or directly
competitive products in the relevant period.
The investigation revealed that eighty percent of the
subject firm production was used to supply another company owned
by Overton's Inc. Prior to the closure of the Northwind facility
in December of 2001, Overton's Inc. made a decision to outsource
production of competitive products with other domestic suppliers,
and subsequently closed the Fergus Falls plant.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Northwind Outdoor Company, Overton's Inc., Fergus Falls,
Minnesota, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 9th day of July, 2002.
/s/ Edward A. Tomchick
__________________________________
EDWARD A. TOMCHICK
Director, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance