DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-51,571

SHOALS GRAPHICS & APPAREL, INC.
FLORENCE, ALABAMA

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, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance as a secondarily affected
worker group.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility for secondary workers to apply for
Trade Adjustment Assistance, the group eligibility requirements of
paragraph (b) of Section 222 of the Trade Act, as amended, must be
met. It is determined in this case that the requirements of (b) of
Section 222, as amended, have been met.
The investigation was initiated on April 23, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers at
Shoals Graphics & Apparel, Inc., Florence, Alabama. The workers at
the subject firm produce screen printed apparel.
The investigation revealed that Shoals Graphics & Apparel,
Inc., Florence, Alabama acted as a downstream producer, providing
screen printing for producers of tee shirts and sweat shirts.
The investigation revealed that employment at Shoals Graphics
& Apparel, Inc., Florence, Alabama, declined in the first quarter
of 2003 compared to the same time period of the previous year.
The investigation revealed that Shoals Graphics & Apparel,
Inc., Florence, Alabama, acts as a downstream producer for a
primary firm whose workers received a certification of eligibility
to apply for trade adjustment assistance based on increased imports
from Mexico. The primary firm imported finished products from
Mexico while reducing orders for screen printing from the subject
firm.
The investigation further revealed that a loss of business
with the primary firm contributed to the employment decline at
Shoals Graphics & Apparel, Inc., Florence, Alabama, in the first
quarter of 2003.



Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Shoals Graphics &
Apparel, Inc., Florence, Alabama qualify as adversely affected
secondary workers under Section 222(b) of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the
following certification:
"All workers of Shoals Graphics & Apparel, Inc., Florence,
Alabama, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after April 14, 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 24th day of June, 2003

/s/ Linda G. Poole

_______________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance