A long-time Grand Rapids company is welcoming Vice President Joe Biden Wednesday.
The vice president plans to speak at American Seating Company around 11 a.m. His speech, which is not open to the public, is expected to focus on manufacturing and how the Obama administration is working to keep manufacturing jobs in the U.S.
Dave McLaughlin, vice president and general sales manager at American Seating, says the company has stood the test of time. “Business could always be better," he says. "We’re not doing real well, we’re not doing badly."
For 125 years, the company has seen both good and bad economies. They make products you may have sat on. That includes city bus seats and stadium seats, specifically those found in Comerica Park, Wrigley Field, and the new Florida Marlins stadium.
“Our commitment to U.S. manufacturing is certainly one that the administration homed in during the state of the union speech last week,” he says.
However, McLaughlin says it’s hard to compete with companies overseas where labor is often cheaper.
One measure includes eliminating incentives that ship jobs to other countries. Second, the administration says it plans to offer tax credits to businesses that create jobs here.
“There’s no question that the cost of labor overseas is generally lower than the cost of labor here, so there has to be an offset to create an economic incentive to U.S. businesses to reverse that, that outsourcing history," McLaughlin says. "A tax credit is a good way to do it,”
McLaughlin says employees, their families, and the media are invited to attend. The White House may have some guests.
FOX 17 plans to stream the coverage live right here on our website.
