A European discount retailer wants to open its first U.S. headquarters and distribution center at a large Fort Mill industrial site near Carowinds, part of a $25.5 million project that would create 215 jobs.

The company, identified only by the code name Project Pear, is eyeing the 345,000-square-foot facility near Carowinds Boulevard and Pleasant Road where Stanley Black & Decker operated before announcing its closure two years ago, the Rock Hill Herald reported.

It is one of two unnamed companies pursuing York County incentive deals that together could bring more than 280 jobs and nearly $40 million in investment. The second, code-named Project Utopia, involves a $17 million corporate office plan in Clover.

Neither company has been publicly identified.

Fort Mill project details

Of Project Pear's 215 planned jobs, 79 corporate headquarters positions would pay an average annual salary of $87,173. Another 120 distribution center roles would average $55,182. The jobs would be created within five years.

York County would transfer terms of an existing fee agreement from the former Stanley Black & Decker property and extend credits to the new company. Under the proposed deal, the company would pay fees in lieu of taxes and receive a revenue credit for five years, starting at 50% and decreasing 10% each year.

The Fort Mill site is one of several locations across the Southeast under consideration by the retailer.

Clover headquarters plan

Project Utopia would relocate and expand a North American headquarters onto property the company already owns in Clover, adding 56 jobs and moving 10 existing positions. The project includes a new research and development facility. Average pay for the planned roles is $145,475, with the new jobs arriving by 2033.

Of the $17 million investment, $15.5 million would go toward new construction. The incentive would let the company pay a fee at a rate below the standard 10.5% for 20 years, with an additional 40% discount for the first 10 years. The Herald reported that the specific rate has not been listed in available county information.

That company is also weighing keeping its current headquarters in New Jersey or moving to North Carolina's Research Triangle.

York County Council was set to vote Oct. 19 on starting the approval process for both deals. Two additional votes and a public hearing at dates not yet scheduled would still be required.