Plans to bring the Carolina Panthers’ headquarters to SC may be in trouble.

State officials’ request for a $24 million federal grant was not approved at least for this year.

The state needed to put up a $25 million match, with $1 million from Rock Hill toward the $50 million projected cost of an I-77 interchange – $10 million more than earlier estimates.

Asked if losing the $24 million grant jeopardizes the project and who would pay for the interchange, Katie Quinn of the City of Rock Hill referred us to the state Commerce Department.

Charleston was approved for a $18.1 million grant.

The Panthers’ headquarters and training facilities move to Rock Hill is in a plan to create 7,000 jobs with average annual salaries of $60,000 as claimed in a state application for the interchange grant.

The projected jobs in the grant application from the SS Department of Transportation is 1,135 higher than what the Department of Commerce estimated.

Commerce spokeswoman Alex Clark said the grant application covered the office park, not just the Panthers.

The I-77 interchange would give access to a new multi-purpose development including office buildings and a health complex.

Commerce had projected 150 “direct” jobs plus another 5,715 “indirect” jobs with an estimated $3.66 billion payroll over 15 years.

The taxpayer cost over 15 years was $107.7 million, including a $40 million interchange, $65.3 million in projected job-development credits and $937,557 in estimated job-tax credits.

Sen. Dick Harpootlian who represents the Irmo area disputed Commerce’s analysis in his own study.

In it an ex-Commerce economist estimated the total number of new jobs at 208, based on the permanent relocation of 75 Panthers personnel.

Since the Panthers started playing in 1995, the team has 195 wins and 200 losses during the regular season.

Its 2019 record is 5-7.

Head coach Ron Rivera, who took over the job in 2011, has been fired.

The Panthers did not immediately respond to written questions about whether it still plans to move its headquarters and training facilities to Rock Hill.

Brundrett is the news editor of The Nerve. Contact him at 803-254-4411 or rick@thenerve.org .