PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- Mayor Brett Smiley said he believes while Hasbro's "ancestral home" is in Pawtucket, the capital city should be considered if a deal can't be reached to keep the toymaker there. Hasbro executives confirmed last week they’re seeking to relocate and have been exploring new space in the Greater Boston area. The company has been headquartered in Rhode Island for more than century. But Pawtucket leaders are still holding onto hope that Hasbro will keep its headquarters in the city, even if it's not on Newport Avenue. The executive director of the Pawtucket Foundation has floated the former Apex site as an alternative location. But even if Hasbro was interested, that may not be possible. The city announced Tuesday it had received four proposals from companies to redevelop the 14-acre Apex site following an open competitive bidding process. Smiley told reporters at an unrelated event in Providence on Friday that he had been in touch with Gov. Dan McKee about the company's future plans. "If Pawtucket turns out to not be an option, I would, of course, love for them to be in Providence," Smiley said. "I think there's a couple exciting possibilities in Providence." Smiley has had the ear of Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks in recent days. The mayor said he saw Cocks at the Fall 2024 Economic Outlook Luncheon hosted by the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 16. The luncheon also advertised a "featured conversation" with the company's CEO. "I actually sat at his table -- and he's a resident in city of Providence, so I know him a little bit -- and we had a chance to chat that day," Smiley said. The Boston Business Journal first reported the company’s potential move later that afternoon. It's not the first time Smiley has been involved in talks with the company, which has considered moving to Massachusetts before. He recalled discussions that took place when he was a senior aide to then-Gov. Gina Raimondo, who he said had a "close relationship" with Hasbro's chairman and CEO at the time, Brian Goldner. (Goldner passed away in 2021.) "We were starting to work on a really competitive, and I think, compelling proposal to keep Hasbro in Rhode Island; the first choice was Pawtucket," Smiley said. "That's their sort of ancestral home, if you will." The mayor said he had confidence that McKee's team is working on a proposal to keep Hasbro in Rhode Island, but said the company's CEO should give Providence another look before deciding to move out of state. Smiley said he's been in touch with the company's chief executive in recent days. "I think there's a lot of really exciting things happening in the city, and there's a lot of good reasons for Hasbro to want to be in Providence: access to talent, a dynamic economy, and a really exciting local workforce that would be thrilled to have Hasbro join them as a new corporate partner and neighbor," the mayor added. As for where that may be in Providence, Smiley said he had a few ideas brewing, including the former I-195 land in downtown Providence. The latter idea has been floated publicly by Laurie White, who leads the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. "But I also know that Capital Center, which is the area adjacent to the train station, is hard to beat in terms of connectivity," Smiley said. "Train service to Boston, New York and to T.F. Green." Smiley said his team at City Hall is holding internal meetings to consider proposals they could offer Hasbro in order to be "ready to go when that moment arises." Alexandra Leslie ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.