DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-61,389

VAUNGARDE ACQUISITION, LLC
OWOSSO, MICHIGAN

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For
Alternative Trade 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 27, 2007, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of
Vaungarde Acquisition, LLC, Owosso, Michigan. The workers
paint automotive parts.
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 27, 2007 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at
Vaungarde Acquisition, LLC, Owosso, Michigan. The workers
of the subject firm paint automotive parts.
The investigation revealed that Vaungarde Acquisition,
LLC, Owosso, Michigan, acts as a downstream finisher for
automotive parts makers.
Evidence revealed that Meridian Automotive Systems,
Plant 7, Grand Rapids, Michigan, to whom the petitioning
workers' firm or subdivision acts as a downstream producer,
employed a group of workers who received a certification of
eligibility for trade adjustment assistance based on a
shift in production to Mexico, and the downstream
production is related to the article that was the basis for
such certification. Meridian Automotive Systems, Plant 7,
Grand Rapids, Michigan, was affected by a shift of
production to Mexico while reducing purchases of painted
automotive parts from the petitioning workers' firm or
subdivision. The subject firm's employment declined, in
part, because of that shift of production. Workers of
Meridian Automotive Systems, Plant 7, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, were certified as eligible to apply for Trade
Adjustment Assistance on November 14, 2006 (TA-W-60,321).
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade
Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of
Labor herein presents the results of its investigation
regarding certification of eligibility to apply for
alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older
workers.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program

that the Department must consider under Section 246 of the

Trade Act are:

1. Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older.

2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable.

3. The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry
are adverse).

The Department has determined that criterion 2 has not
been met.
The investigation revealed that the workers in the
workers' firm possess skills that are easily transferable.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Vaungarde
Acquisition, LLC, Owosso, Michigan, 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 Vaungarde Acquisition, LLC, Owosso,
Michigan, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after April 18, 2006, through
two years from the date of certification are eligible
to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974."
I further determine that all workers of Vaungarde
Acquisition, LLC, Owosso, Michigan, are denied eligibility
to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under
Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 24th day of May 2007


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