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STONEVILLE -- This line might cause a double take for some: China is losing a company to Rockingham County.

Gerbing’s Heated Clothing announced today it is phasing out production in China and returning to the United States, bringing at least 150 jobs to Stoneville.

“I’m really excited to bring ‘made in America’ back to my company,” Jeff Gerbing, the company’s owner, told a crowd gathered in a former furniture manufacturing facility.

That building will soon be where workers sew and wire heated apparel such as jackets and gloves. Gerbing’s father, Gordon, founded the company nearly 40 years ago in their home state of Washington.

Gerbing recalled how his father, inspired by a cold employee at his machine shop, developed heated clothing using electric blankets and winter overalls.

During the following decades, the company grew to become the leader in the industry and was beloved among motorcycle riders as well as other outdoor sports enthusiasts.

That success led to a deal with motorcycle giant Harley-Davidson, Gerbing said. And in 1998, at the urging of the motorcycle legend, Gerbing moved production to China.

But production costs in China have climbed, Gerbing said, and controlling production is difficult, so he decided to bring the company back.

Gerbing tearfully recounted the story to a crowd of local dignitaries and eager job hopefuls. For Gerbing, a man who professed his deep faith and patriotism, the decision wasn’t just about his company but also revitalizing the nation.

“People need jobs,” he said. “God has picked me to go out and help people praying for jobs.”

Getting back to the states wasn’t easy, said Gerbing, who complained about government bureaucracy during his speech, saying the experience is one he hopes no other small business has to go through.

“If you think the government is trying to help you, you’re wrong,” he said.

After the speech, Gerbing said his frustrations came specifically from the economic incentives process, saying state officials nitpicked the size of his company and the amount of taxable equipment he would bring to the area.

The fight for the company came down to Stoneville and a town in West Virginia and was finalized only this week. Gerbing said it was too expensive to consider returning to Washington.

Stoneville Mayor Rex Tuggle made no bones about what the announcement means for his town.

“I’ve been mayor for 18 years, and this is the most exciting thing, most positive thing to happen to Stoneville since I’ve been mayor,” he said.

The company will work through the local Employment Security Commission office to accept applications. Gerbing said the average pay will be between $10 and $14 per hour with benefits. He hopes to begin training new employees by May.

Gerbing said the factory will also have a retail store, and he wants bring at least another 150 jobs to the area in the future and maybe even relocate the company’s headquarters to Stoneville.