Rhode Island is offering $1.9 million in incentives to pen maker A.T. Cross Co. to help the 170-year-old company move its headquarters from Lincoln to Providence.

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation board of directors approved the package on Monday evening.

Commerce Managing Director Jesse Saglio says the company was also weighing a larger $2.9 million counter offer from Connecticut but is committed to staying in Rhode Island if it gets the local incentives.

The company plans to move out of its Lincoln manufacturing plant to a smaller office at Providence's Foundry complex. It expects to add about 35 new jobs over three years.

Most of its pens are now manufactured in China.

It's owned by New York private equity firm Clarion Capital Partners.