By Jason Clay Jansky

Infrastructure problems have delayed the construction of a Holiday Inn Express in Kenedy, but local economic development leaders insist the project is still in the works.

The hotel will be built on the lot across from the Kenedy Wal-Mart Supercenter on the east side of U.S. Highway 181, but economic development officials aren’t yet sure when construction will begin.

"The lines were placed on the Wal-Mart side and they were supposed to be placed under the street. That has not happened. It’s not necessarily a problem with the hotel, it’s the infrastructure," Karnes County Economic Development Corporation Board President Vi Malone said.

Zinod Kasan, CEO of Ocean Gates Hotel Management and Development Group out of McAllen, purchased the property last year with the intent of building a three-story building that will have around 70 rooms, a large conference room that will accommodate around 150 people, and professional landscaping.

County economic development officials also recently presented their end-of-the-year activity report.

It indicates the board and executive director are working on a total of four active economic development projects that may bring in excess of 400 jobs to the area.

In addition, the group assisted five businesses in handling growth, organized tax abatement guidelines and applications, sold 30 acres of land for business development purposes, visited with executives from two nationwide restaurant chains that may want to open business here, reviewed a business plan and conducted a site visit for a possible new country western store, and entertained several housing development possibilities.