Saw this in the news:
GARDNER, Mass. — Nichols & Stone, one of the oldest remaining wood furniture producers in the United States, said earlier this year it planned to convert its factory here to an assembly, finishing and packaging operation. But the success of that plan could depend on whether the company receives help from state agencies. Company President Carlton E. "Tuck" Nichols told two local newspapers, the Worcester Business Journal and The Gardner News, that he has been appealing to the state for financial assistance in making the transition. Furniture/Today’s efforts to contact Nichols were unsuccessful. But he told the Gardner News on May 29 that unless the company can obtain government assistance, it could be forced to close. Nichols also told the paper that he has been working with lenders over the past several weeks to finance the transition. "Financing this conversion is definitely going to be a challenge for us because of the state and national economy," he said. Nichols told both local papers that his company was having a difficult time as a domestic manufacturer competing against low-cost imports. John Rice, Nichols & Stone’s vice president of sales and marketing, told Furniture/Today this week that the company was down to about 100 workers. It was reported to have about 200 employees as recently as February. Rice said the company told dealers at the April High Point Market that it planned to shift from a manufacturing operation to an assembly and finishing operation. Until now, the Massachusetts plant has produced dining room tables, chairs and dining case pieces. The company also sources bedroom from Honduras. The company now plans to import the dining parts from China, Central America and Italy and have them assembled and finished in Gardner, Rice said. He could not provide a timetable for the transition. "If we can get a little decent business and can pull this thing off, we will be around for a long time," Rice said. | 
