Despite a slowing economy, a Baltimore company plans to spend $120 million to build a designer outlet mall at Holly Springs in Cherokee County.

Local officials say the planned Prime Outlets Holly Springs will boost property tax collections and attract businesses that usually locate around such centers.

Prime Senior Vice President Karen Fluharty said a slow economy is the best for outlets.

"We find, historically, in times of difficult economic situations, the outlet sector performs extremely well because consumers are looking to get the most for their dollar. But they still want the brands they know and love," Fluharty said.

The 450,000-square-foot outlet center will be on 85 acres at I-575 and Sixes Road, about 30 miles north of downtown Atlanta.

An outlet center on I-75 in Calhoun, about 45 miles away, is the closest direct competitor. Town Center at Cobb, a conventional regional shopping center and not an outlet mall, is in Kennesaw, about 10 miles away.

"They figure people will commute 55 miles to come here," said Holly Springs City Manager Robbie Rokovitz. "They've determined there is plenty of clientele that will be attracted to this development. It will provide jobs. And from a sales tax standpoint, it will provide revenue to fund the improvements for the residential population."

The 6 percent sales tax collected in Holly Springs includes a penny for a special local option sales tax and another penny for education.