Wal-Mart is set to begin construction on their new Supercenter in Kenedy by January next year, according to local economic development officials.

The deal is set to close December 4, the final bits of paperwork are getting the needed amount of signatures, and Wal-Mart officials are bidding the construction project.

Construction on the project was planned to start early this year, then got pushed back to August, then delayed again.

"We had some delays trying to resolve traffic lights and traffic signals with TXDOT. We also had to do a joint agreement for infrastructure that took a little bit longer to get back from Wal-Mart," Karnes County Economic Development Executive Director Terry Trevino said. "From what I understand, the grand opening date is still set for August 7, 2007. Construction probably will start, I’m thinking, in January. They already went out for bids for all the contractors. As soon as they close (the deal), they’re going under construction."

The Supercenter will be inside Kenedy’s industrial park, located inside city limits on the north side of town adjacent to U.S. Highway 181.

The new store will be about 100,000 square feet in size, which is smaller than most Wal-Mart Supercenters, but twice the size of the Wal-Mart store currently operating in Kenedy.

The store will offer more of everything the current Wal-Mart offers, plus produce and gasoline. Plans for the area also include spots for two restaurants.

Economic development officials aren’t planning on turning a blind eye to the old Wal-Mart building, either. Trevino said its already been one of her priorities to make sure it doesn’t sit unused.

"There are several people that are waiting for Wal-Mart to move out. I’ve been trying to recruit several businesses. That building, I’m hoping it’ll be a little bit easier (to sell) because they already have infrastructure there," she said. "I’m hoping that the square footage and traffic counts in that facility will meet the criteria for a good business going in there."