As managing editor of For more than three years, toy rotational molder Little Tikes Co. has kept everyone guessing. Today the company finally announced its decision -- it will keep its headquarters manufacturing plant in Hudson, Ohio.
The Akron Beacon Journal has the story on its Ohio.com Web site.
According to the report, Tikes had offers from Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Mexico to relocate. But in the end the company decided to accept a package of loans, grants and incentives from the state of Ohio and the city of Hudson worth $4.3 million.
"We're returning and adding jobs," Tom Richmond, Little Tikes Worldwide general manager, told the newspaper.
The company is bringing its consumer services division back to Hudson from California, adding some marketing positions, and it has hired 30 workers to handle production that Tikes is moving to Ohio from China.
In recent years Tikes has slipped to the No. 9 spot in Plastics News' annual ranking of North American rotomolders, but it's still a big name in the sector. In fact, an editorial in our Aug. 24 ranking issue this year focused on Tikes' pending decision. Check it out for a classic cartoon (featuring the iconic Tikes Cozy Coupe toys) by reader favorite Rich Williams.