DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,757

CURT G. JOA, INC.
FLORIDA DIVISION
BOYNTON BEACH, FLORIDA

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 eligi-
bility 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 separat-
ed;

(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 July 1, 2002 in response
to a petition filed by workers on behalf of all workers at Curt
G. Joa, Inc., Florida Division, Boynton Beach, Florida. The
workers were engaged in employment related to the production of
one-of-a-kind custom made processing machines.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
Layoffs at the Boynton Beach, Florida plant are attributed
to the company's decision to close the subject facility down due
to a decline in market conditions for which this kind of custom-
made processing machine is used.
A survey was not conducted due to the unique nature of the
product produced by the subject plant. Imports of products like
or directly competitive with what the subject plant produced is
unlikely, since they are a one-of-a-kind type of machinery.
The subject firm did not import customized machinery like or
directly competitive with machinery produced at the subject plant
during the relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Curt
G. Joa, Inc., Florida Division, Boynton Beach, Florida are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 5th day of September, 2002.


/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance