Rock Hill Wins Project Cross HQ, 159 Jobs & $20M

County council approves measures to attract corporate headquarters and nearly 160 jobs to downtown Rock Hill

York County Council approved three unanimous votes to advance negotiations with a company codenamed Project Cross that plans to move its headquarters to downtown Rock Hill, bringing nearly 160 high-paying jobs and more than $20 million in investment. The council committed to a preliminary fee agreement, passed the first of three votes needed to establish that fee mechanism, and approved applying for a $600,000 grant to support building improvements.

What the votes cover and immediate effects

The council’s three votes included a formal commitment to enter a fee agreement with the company, the initial approval needed to create that fee arrangement, and authorization to seek state economic development grant funding tied to the relocation. The fee agreement is an economic incentive that allows the company to pay a negotiated fee in place of normal property taxes; full details of the agreement have not been released. The grant application is for a $600,000 award from the South Carolina Coordinating Council for Economic Development and would not require any local matching funds. The county says the grant would be used by the relocating company to upfit its new building.

Jobs, wages and investment breakdown

County officials say Project Cross will relocate 78 existing positions and create 81 new positions over five years, for a total of 159 expected jobs. The projected average annual wage for these positions is more than $90,000, which the county calculates at about 53% higher than the county’s current average wage. The company projects a combined investment exceeding $20 million, including roughly $3.6 million to acquire and improve an existing downtown property and approximately $16.4 million for machinery and equipment.

Company profile and site information

Officials identified the relocating business only by its codename and did not disclose its current base of operations. The company provides shipping and brokerage services for retailers. County material notes that the firm had a competing site under consideration in North Carolina. The county has confirmed the planned location is an existing building in downtown Rock Hill, but it has not released the building’s address or further site-specific details.

Local government perspective and process steps

County leadership framed the potential headquarters relocation as a desirable addition to the downtown economy and emphasized its alignment with local redevelopment goals. The fee agreement the council initiated is subject to two additional votes before it is finalized. The state grant application was authorized to support tenant upfits and building improvements should the award be received. No local taxpayer dollars are required for the grant request.

Known unknowns and information the county has withheld

As of the council meeting, the county has not released the name of the company, the firm’s present headquarters location, the full terms of the proposed fee agreement, or the exact downtown building that would house the headquarters. Those details are expected to be disclosed later in the negotiation and approval process, pending completion of the remaining local votes and any confidentiality rules that apply to economic development negotiations.

Economic context and potential impact

If the plan proceeds as described, the project would bring a sizable payroll boost to the downtown area because of the higher-than-average wages. The investment in property improvements and equipment would support construction and procurement activity. The relocation component would move 78 employees into the county, while the new-hire component would add 81 jobs over five years, creating both near-term and ongoing employment opportunities.

Next steps

The county must hold two additional council votes to finalize the fee agreement, and the grant application will be processed through the state Coordinating Council for Economic Development. Further site and contract details will likely be released as the negotiations and approval processes progress and when confidentiality constraints allow.