HELENA, Mont. — Montana officials are inviting PayPal to consider Montana for its new operation center after the online payment company canceled expansion plans in North Carolina.

In a letter sent Wednesday, Gov. Steve Bullock and U.S. Sen. Jon Tester invited the company to consider bringing the 400 jobs to Montana that had been planned for the Tar Heel State.

Bullock spokesman Tim Crowe says the invitation is serious and state officials are prepared to discuss financial incentives.

On Tuesday, PayPal scuttled its $3.6 million plan for the North Carolina center because of a new state law that that restricts protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The company said its decision reflected its belief that all people should be treated equally.

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