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GREENSBORO — The city and county will not hold public hearings next week on economic incentives for a $400 million American Express data center as planned.

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners’ hearing on May 6 has been delayed; the city has not set a hearing for May 4 because it has no request to do so yet.

City and county staff members said residents should not read anything into the delay for the project, which could bring 150 jobs to Guilford County.

“At this point, it’s not concerning because they are working their schedule and doing all their due diligence,” said Assistant City Manager Andy Scott, who would not identify the company.

County Attorney Mark Payne said Monday that everything is not in place for a county hearing. He said he does not see the delay as a threat to the project.

“I would not take it to mean anything negative or positive other than things aren’t ready for May 6,” he said. “It is not unusual for fairly complicated matters, like economic development packages, to take a lot of time for preparation.

“I can’t say that is what is involved here, but that wouldn’t surprise me or be unusual.”

The county has not set a new date for the hearing. “Rescheduling is up to the Board of Commissioners,” Payne said.

City Council members planned to hold a public hearing May 4, staff members had said when the council considered the issue in closed session.

“We will set a public hearing once the company requests that of us in writing,” Scott said.

The delay caught elected officials by surprise.

“It’s news to me,” said County Commissioner Kirk Perkins. “Any delay is a disappointment, but we still think we are a viable location for that facility.”

Dan Lynch, president of the Greensboro Economic Development Alliance, declined to comment.

While the effort to bring American Express to Guilford County has been major news locally, it has generated little attention in Des Moines, Iowa, the city with which Guilford and Greensboro are reportedly competing for the project.

Matt Anderson, Des Moines’ economic development leader, told the Des Moines Register that the city is not working with American Express.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership, an area economic development group, said it could not confirm or deny working on the project, according to its policy.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com

Contact Donald W. Patterson at 373-7027 or don.patterson@news-record.com