UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-98,276

THE AMES COMPANY INC.

FORMERLY KNOWN AS CLOSETMAID LLC

CLOSETMAID BRAND DIVISION

A SUBSIDIARY OF GRIFFON CORPORATION

PHARR, TEXAS

Certification Regarding Eligibility

To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance and

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility To Apply For

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (the Act), 19 U.S.C. § 2273, the Department of Labor
(Department) herein presents the results of an investigation
regarding certification of eligibility to apply for Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers.

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, or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2)(B)(i) there has been a shift in production by
such workers' firm or subdivision to a foreign country
of articles like or directly competitive with articles
which are produced by such firm or subdivision; and

(ii)(I) the country to which the workers' firm has
shifted production of the articles is a party to a free
trade agreement with the United States;

(II) the country to which the workers' firm has
shifted production of the articles is a beneficiary
under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or the
Caribbean Basin Economic Act; or

(III) there has been or is likely to be an
increase in imports of articles that are like or
directly competitive with articles which are or were
produced by such firm or subdivision

The investigation was initiated in response to a Trade
Adjustment Assistance for Workers (TAA) and Alternative Trade
Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) petition dated April 26, 2022 and
filed on April 27, 2022 by a State Workforce Office, on behalf
of former workers of The Ames Company Inc., formerly known as
ClosetMaid LLC, ClosetMaid Brand Division, a subsidiary of
Griffon Corporation, Pharr, Texas (hereafter referred to as the
"worker group" or "Ames/ClosetMaid-Pharr"). In accordance with 20
C.F.R. 618.110 a worker group is defined as, ""¦inclusive of
teleworkers and staffed workers." The workers' firm is engaged
in activities related to the production of wire closets and wood
goods for cabinets (closet and cabinet products). The petition
alleges that worker separations, or threats thereof, are due to
a shift in production to a foreign country.

During the course of the investigation, the Department
collected information from the petitioner(s), the workers' firm,
and other relevant sources.

Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in Ames/ClosetMaid-Pharr
have become totally or partially separated, or are threatened to
become totally or partially separated.

Section 222(a)(2)(B) has been met because the workers'
firm has shifted production of closet and cabinet products to a
foreign country that is party to a Free Trade Agreement with the
United States.

ALTERNATIVE TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (Act), 19 U.S.C. § 2813, the Department 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 requirements for workers of a firm
under Section 246 (a)(3)(A)(ii) of the Trade Act are satisfied
if the following criteria are met:

(I) Whether a significant number of workers in the
workers' firm are 50 years of age or older;
(II) Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess
skills that are not easily transferable; and
(III) The competitive conditions within the workers'
industry (i.e., conditions within the industry
are adverse).

The Department has determined that criteria (I) and (II)
have not been met. Less than five percent of the workers at
Ames/ClosetMaid-Pharr are 50 years of age or older. Workers in
Ames/ClosetMaid-Pharr possess skills that are easily
transferable.

Conclusion

After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Ames/ClosetMaid-
Pharr, 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 The Ames Company Inc., formerly known as
ClosetMaid LLC, ClosetMaid Brand Division, a subsidiary of
Griffon Corporation, Pharr, Texas, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after April 26,
2021, 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; and I
further determine that all workers of The Ames Company
Inc., formerly known as ClosetMaid LLC, ClosetMaid Brand
Division, a subsidiary of Griffon Corporation, Pharr, Texas
are denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 3rd day of June, 2022


/s/ Del-Min Amy Chen
_______________________
DEL-MIN AMY CHEN

Certifying Officer, Office of

Trade Adjustment Assistance