In the ongoing cross-border competition for jobs, Charlotte is losing yet another company to South Carolina.
Just last month, it was photo-sharing company Shutterfly abandoning Charlotte for Fort Mill.
On Tuesday, Physicians Choice Laboratory Services announced it is moving to Rock Hill, where it will double its workforce. The drug testing company opened in 2009 and now has 150 employees in Charlotte.
Mark Farris, the economic development director of York County, says it’s only natural.
“In any major metropolitan area, you’re going to see companies look for an opportunity as they expand to lower their cost of operation and as a result look elsewhere,” Farris says.
The company is expecting to get money from the state of South Carolina towards construction of a new facility.
Physicians Choice Laboratory Services executive Paul Schmidt says York County also agreed to give the company a 43 percent property tax cut for the next two decades.
And there’s state money for the company if it creates the more than 200 new jobs its promised. Schmidt won’t say exactly how much, but calls it “a very attractive incentive package”.
In a press release South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called the move “another big win” for South Carolina. But Farris says it’s not all bad news for Charlotte.
“While some people may consider this a loss to Charlotte, the company will be doubling their employment of which certainly folks in Charlotte are eligible to apply,” he says.
Physicians Choice Laboratory Services is already accepting applications for new positions on its website.