Costco isn’t the only company eyeing a Rock Hill region tax deal. Here’s 5 more
A $240 million Costco distribution center in Rock Hill isn’t the only economic development plan on the way in the Rock Hill region.
Five others moved forward on Monday, the same day York County Council agreed to give Costco $25 million in tax credits from the city of Rock Hill, county and Rock Hill School District.
There are 73 companies listed on a document the county maintains for fee agreements, where companies pay a negotiated fee in place of taxes.
Three companies likely to join that list haven’t been named yet, but they have been debated in recent weeks:
- Project Forge is an insulated copper pipe maker looking to add a second York County location. The company would buy the former DIRTT Environmental Solutions building at 2225 Williams Industrial Blvd., a 130,000-square-foot facility. It would create 42 jobs across both York County sites within five years, paying an average of $31.50 an hour. The new site would be operational within 18 months. On Monday, York County passed the second of three readings needed to extend tax credits that were approved for DIRTT to the new project.
- Project Dinger is a baseball training company looking to put its headquarters in Fort Mill. The $10 million plan would create 71 jobs paying $34.05 an hour. The county passed the second reading Monday on an incentive deal creating a 30% tax credit for seven years. The site would open next summer. While the company hasn’t been named publicly, The Herald reported this fall that Pineville, North Carolina-based Tread Athletics bought a 108,000-square-foot warehouse on Deerfield Drive in Fort Mill. That company came to the county for a rezoning to allow of the 10-acre property to allow an 80,000-square-foot fieldhouse.
- Council also voted Monday to apply for a $200,000 state economic incentive grant for Project Cornice. A $12.3 million investment, Project Cornice involves a Charlotte ornamental fabrication business moving several sites into 438 Lakeshore Parkway in Rock Hill. The new company is under contract to buy a building there from Composite Resources. The company would relocate 46 N.C. employees and add 28 jobs. Average pay would be $55.36 an hour.
South Carolina has had recent success attracting companies from Charlotte.
Supply chain company Riverstone Logistics announced plans in September to move from Charlotte to Rock Hill, bringing 159 jobs and $16 million of investment. In May, Hissho Sushi announced similar plans, bringing 146 jobs from Charlotte to Rock Hill with a $5 million investment.
Charlotte, though, has had its own share of success in attracting companies when competing with South Carolina. Last month, Scout Motors picked Charlotte for its headquarters, despite building its production facility in South Carolina. That $207 million investment is expected to bring more than 1,200 jobs.
Economic development deals beyond York County
Chester and Lancaster counties routinely have incentive deals, too.
Chester County finalized a tax incentive deal Monday with Project 2485. That manufacturing company projects a $9.3 million investment and 36 jobs within five years at 2251 Catawba River Road in Fort Lawn.
The company will pay a fee at a 6% assessed tax rate instead of the 10.5% manufacturing rate. The county also will hold the millage steady and receive credits on those fee payments for 10 years.
Chester County also finalized a similar deal with Jones-Hamilton Co., formerly Project 2521, on Monday.
The chemical manufacturer with a site in Richburg intends to invest $11.1 million within a five-year expansion. The company will get the 6% assessment rate and a fixed millage, along with credits against the fee it’ll pay in place of taxes.
Chester County Council discussed two more fee agreement projects in executive session Monday, but didn’t act on them.
