$1 billion ‘Project Cobra’ data center could be coming to York County pending council vote
York County Council can finalize an incentive agreement Monday night for the $1 billion QTS Data Centers project. The decision would come after a scheduled public hearing.
For months the county has been working through details on the agreement. York County on Friday released it’s agenda for Monday’s meeting, which listed a final decision on the incentive agreement. That was the first time the county identified QTS Data Center, which previously been called “Project Cobra.”
The Herald had connected the project via land records and prior county decisions to the Kansas-based data center.
QTS is projecting a $1 billion investment and 12 new jobs. The proposed economic incentive deal would require a minimum $900 million investment and 10 jobs within eight years.
Property that ordinarily would be taxed at 10.5% would instead pay a fee, if the company hits promised targets, based on a 4% assessment. Millage would be adjustable. The deal would extend over 40 years.
The company also would be eligible for credits against that fee of 20% to 35% during the four-decade term. Those special source revenue credits are based on infrastructure produced by the company.
QTS owns property for the site in the Campbell Road and Hands Mill Highway area of Lake Wylie. The Herald previously reported QTS had 360 acres in that area after spending more than $10 million in July.
A $7 million purchase was for more than 230 acres at 2107 Hands Mill Property and surrounding areas, north of Paraham Road. QTS spent more than $4.3 million for another 130 acres at 5805 Campbell Road.
More tax incentive deals
Also at Monday night’s council meeting, set for 6 p.m. at the county government center at 6 S. Congress St. in York, two more decisions await.
Both involve economic incentive agreements.
The county can finalize an incentive deal with Silfab Solar Cells. The Herald previously reported plans for 800 new jobs and a $150 million investment for the solar manufacturer eyeing 7149 Logistics Lane in Fort Mill. There has been citizen and council member push back on that project related to roads in that area.
The Silfab project was initially labeled Project Mountie. The incentive deal would be a similar assessment rate reduction and fee in place of a tax, this time for 30 years.
Also on Monday’s agenda, council can decide whether to convey terms from an existing economic development incentive deal for RG Baxter Lane to Exeter 7149 Logistics. The county completed a fee deal with RG Baxter Lane in 2019.
The Herald reported RG Baxter Lane bought 72 acres of farmland in the Gold Hill Road area of Fort Mill in 2019 for almost $8.5 million. The Herald also reported RG Baxter Lane applied that same year for a 1.1 million-square-foot warehouse project, Stateline 77.
Documents listed with the decision to convey the incentive agreement list the same Stateline 77 subdivision property. The property, building and incentive arrangement would transition to Pennsylvania real estate investment management company EQT Exeter.
This story was originally published September 15, 2023 at 3:40 PM.
