Grant of Authority for Subzone Status, Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (Footwear and Apparel), Rockford, Cedar Springs and Howard City, MI

Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order:

Whereas, the Foreign-Trade Zones Act provides for “...the establishment... of foreign-trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes,” and authorizes the Foreign-Trade Zones Board to grant qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry;

Whereas, the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400) provide for the establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities cannot serve the specific use involved, and when the activity results in significant public benefit and is in the public interest;

Whereas, the Kent-Ottawa-Muskegon Foreign Trade Zone Authority, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 189, has made application to the Board for authority to establish a special-purpose subzone at the footwear and apparel distribution and processing facilities of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., located in Rockford, Cedar Springs and Howard City, Michigan (FTZ Docket 47-2008, filed 8/25/08);

Whereas, notice inviting public comment was given in the Federal Register (73 FR 51440, 9/03/08); and,

Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations are satisfied, and that approval of the application would be in the public interest;

Now, therefore, the Board hereby grants authority for subzone status for activity related to footwear and apparel distribution and processing at the facilities of Wolverine World Wide, Inc., located in Rockford, Cedar Springs and Howard City, Michigan (Subzone 189C), as described in the application and Federal Register notice, and subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations, including Section 400.28.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 26th day of February 2009.