DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-74,378

BALZOUT, INC.
NITRO, WEST VIRGINIA

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor herein
presents the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The group eligibility requirements for workers of a Firm under
Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are satisfied if the
following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or threat
of separation and to the decline in the sales or production of
such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed
on July 13, 2010 by three workers of Balzout, Inc., Nitro, West
Virginia. The worker group is engaged in activities related to the
production of screen-printed t-shirts.
The investigation revealed that workers of the subject firm
meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
percentage of workers were separated during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales and
production of screen printed t-shirts declined significantly during
the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii)(I) has been met because aggregate
United States imports of shirts that are like or directly
competitive with those produced by the subject firm increased
significantly during the relevant period. That is, the ratio of
United States imports was well over 1,000 percent and rising during
the relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased aggregate United States imports of shirts like or
directly competitive with those produced by the subject firm
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at the subject firm.







Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation,
I determine that workers of Balzout, Inc., Nitro, West Virginia who
are engaged in activities related to the production of screen printed
t-shirts, meet the worker group certification criteria under Section
222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section
223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Balzout, Inc., Nitro, West Virginia who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after June
30, 2009, through two years from the date of certification, and
all workers in the group threatened with total or partial
separation from employment on date of certification through two
years from the date of certification, are eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade
Act of 1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 10th day of September, 2010


/s/Elliott S. Kushner
_______________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance