GRAHAM - Alamance County commissioners approved the county's share of an incentives request from the Germany-based supermarket chain Lidl.

The company wants to build a distribution center and regional headquarters at the N.C. Commerce park, a joint effort with the cities of Mebane and Graham.

Commissioners unanimously approved Alamance County's equal share of $5.4 million in incentives in hopes of luring Lidl Stiftung to the N.C. Commerce Park in development.

"$2 million towards improving the infrasctructure, [the] road network around North Carolina Commerce Park," said Robert Lester of MGP Real Estate Consulting, a Lidl subsidiary.

The package also includes $3.4 million dollars in performance-based incentives.

"That will be paid after we've completed our portion of the agreement over a five-year period," said Lester.

The company has pledged to create 80 full-time positions for the headquarters.

"These are not just menial wages, so when the average salary is $80,000 that is a win for our county," said Dan Ingle, Board of Commissioners chair.

It also anticipates hiring another 120 hourly workers for the distribution operation. Commissioner Eddie Boswell said Alamance County was proving to be an attractive location for companies to set up shop.

"We've seen it with Sheetz distribution, Walmart distribution and now, of course, Lidl because we have two interstates running right through here," he said.

Officials called Lidl's plans significant for Alamance County.

"This will be a major component of their entrance into the U.S.," said Mac Williams, president of the Alamance County Chamber of Commerce.

The company planned to open stores throughout the state, carrying mainly private label products, sold at what it says will be a competitive price.

"It's a value proposition that has been very successful for us throughout Europe,” said Lester. “We believe it will be very successful here."

The Mebane City Council was expected to vote on the incentives package Monday night. The Graham City Council was scheduled to take up Lidl’s request Tuesday night.