by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Hudson -- Now that the company is committed to staying in town, Little Tikes may lead the way in a trend of returning jobs from overseas to the United States, according to its general manager.
Isaac Larian, president of Little Tikes' parent company MGA Entertainment, announced Oct. 20 that the toy manufacturer will stay in Hudson. That's good news, said Tom Richmond, general manager of Little Tikes, especially since the decision means more local jobs.
The company "won't have any trouble" adding 66 employees to the 395 working at the Hudson plant, which would meet requirements established in tax break agreements with the city and state, he said.
"We're going to create jobs in America," Richmond said.
"The public looks for 'made in America' on the product," he said.
Some of those new jobs will come from China. The company will first focus on promoting from within, and then hire from the community to fill the 66 new positions, Richmond said.
"We're bringing jobs back from the Orient," he said. "We have better control [here]."
Richmond said the cost dynamics of making products has changed, and it is now cheaper to build products in the United States because costs have gone up in China.
He sees other companies following the trend to make products in America, he added.
The announcement by Larian that Little Tikes is staying came with little fanfare.
Richmond described the Little Tikes organization as "not flashy," which is why its officials opted for a low-key announcement of its intentions to say in Hudson and expand its operations through local and state grants and incentives.
Richmond said the company is working with the state to give something back, such as producing plastic products, like trash and recycling containers, that can be used by local communities.
Little Tikes has committed to investing $5.8 million in machinery, equipment and new technology at its Hudson site, according to agreements with the city and state.
The city and state have provided $300,000 each in a Rapid Outreach grant for machinery and equipment upgrades.
They also will provide job creation tax credits of 50 percent of new city and state payroll taxes for seven years if Little Tikes adds 66 new jobs in three years and remains in Hudson for 14 years, Richard confirmed.
"Hudson is an ideally located solution for the company in a logistics sense," Richmond said. "We have long-standing roots, long-term employees with half of management with the company longer than 15 years, and we have a very good community partnership."
Little Tikes, founded in 1970, broke ground on Barlow Road in 1983 and at its height employed 2,000 people. It was purchased by MGA Entertainment in November 2006.
More information is available at www.littletikes.com.
E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150