After more than its share of delays, construction on a major retail and restaurant development near Clemson finally appears to be imminent.

The Oconee Economic Alliance announced the addition of Emily Hodge as an economic development specialist in a news release Thursday.

Itron has confirmed it is expanding its existing Oconee County facility by relocating operations from a Kentucky plant that reportedly employed more than 400 workers.

A grin comes across Alliance Pickens executive director Ray Farley’s face when he talks about the four expansion projects underway at the Pickens County Commerce Park.

With the recent news surrounding Sears Holdings Corporation, the Sears Hometown Store in Seneca has assured local residents it is going strong and will continue providing the community access to its brands.

Two retailers and a hotel have filed paperwork with Oconee County to be part of the initial lineup of tenants when the doors open on a planned lakefront commercial development near Clemson.

Business owners in downtown Walhalla can now apply for grants to improve the appearance of their storefronts.

Oconee’s chief economic developer says the county expects a planned retail and restaurant development on Lake Hartwell near Clemson that has seen more than its share of delays “to go vertical” by the middle of the year.

On Wednesday, Sears Holdings announced it will close more than 100 Kmart stores and more than 40 Sears stores this spring, but the company’s two stores in Seneca were not on the list.

SC Works and Tri-County Technical College’s Corporate and Community Education Division are reaching out to unemployed and underemployed individuals by hosting a job fair in January.