Halifax Mayor Mike Savage is pitching his city to PayPal and inviting Bruce Springsteen to perform at the Dartmouth Sportsplex after both decided to pull out of North Carolina when the state recently passed an anti-LGBT law.

"If [Bruce Springsteen] wants to come, I'm sure we could fill the Sportsplex in Dartmouth. So Bruce, come on down. Glory days in Halifax," the mayor said outside city hall Monday afternoon.

"Anybody that wants to come and do business in a city that recognizes the value of all its citizens, all of its employees, come to Halifax."

Discriminating law

North Carolina's new law requires transgender people to use the bathroom that matches the sex on their birth certificate.

The law also excludes lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from anti-discrimination protections, and blocks municipalities from adopting their own anti-discrimination and living wage rules.

Springsteen cancelled Sunday's show in Greenboro, N.C., in protest. And PayPal said last week it would scrap plans for a $3.6-million US, 400-job expansion in Charlotte due to the law.

Savage said the company should seriously consider Halifax. He sent out a number of tweets pitching Halifax to PayPal, highlighting its strategic location, universities, and competitive business costs. The mayor sent direct tweets to Dan Shulman, PayPal's president and CEO.

'A long shot'

"Obviously it's a long shot, we're not expecting that everybody is going to come. But we want people to know that right now we think that the value proposition for Halifax is very strong," said Savage.

Savage was joined by Ron Hanlon at city hall. Hanlon is CEO and president of the Halifax Partnership, a group that pitches companies to set up shop in the Halifax Regional Municipality.

"We're going to reach out to PayPal, we're going to craft a letter from the mayor and we intend to follow up with them on as a lead and try to encourage them to come here," said Hanlon.

'We're serious'

"We can really accommodate any white-collar workforce, whether it's in the perimeter of the city, in the core of the city, depending on the nature of the job."

Savage said he has not heard back from PayPal.

"We haven't got a letter of offer yet for them to come. Whether they do it or not, we're sending a message here. We're serious. You'll be well-treated and your employees will be well-treated."

Halifax is not alone in seeking the PayPal expansion. Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has also invited the company to come to his state.

On Tuesday, PayPal confirmed it was actively looking for new locations for its operating facility.

"As we evaluate our options for expanding into new locations, we will continue to consider what is best for PayPal, our customers and our employees," the company said in an email to CBC News.

.<a href="https://twitter.com/PayPal">@PayPal</a> We are a cost-competitive, inclusive, university<br>city by the sea. Come check us out. <a href="https://t.co/MLfsriVTjb">https://t.co/MLfsriVTjb</a> —@MikeSavageHFX

.<a href="https://twitter.com/PayPal">@PayPal</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/IBMCanada">@IBMCanada</a> has already discovered the Halifax<br>advantage, how about you?<a href="https://t.co/r9tVJf4Pgh">https://t.co/r9tVJf4Pgh</a> —@MikeSavageHFX

.<a href="https://twitter.com/PayPal">@PayPal</a>, Halifax is a smart, growing, start-up hub, <a href="https://t.co/G30vmaGR3M">https://t.co/G30vmaGR3M</a> … <a href="https://twitter.com/HfxPartnership">@HfxPartnership</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/voltaeffect">@voltaeffect</a> —@MikeSavageHFX

.<a href="https://twitter.com/PayPal">@PayPal</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/PayPalCA">@PayPalCA</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Dan_Schulman">@Dan_Schulman</a>, Halifax has your rainbow connection: <a href="https://t.co/LmsTFqvjTJ">https://t.co/LmsTFqvjTJ</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hfxnovascotia">@hfxnovascotia</a> —@MikeSavageHFX