POWDERSVILLE — Rumors about a new business coming to the intersection of SC 153 and Highway 81 have been flying for some time.

Now the word is official — Walmart will be building a 148,000 square foot SuperCenter at the site.

Anderson County Planning Director Bill West said he received Walmart’s application on January 12.

“They’ve been working on things for some time,” he said. “It was unnamed until I got the application, but they’ve been working for probably at least six months on their building and site planning.

There’s no firm date as yet regarding when construction on the Walmart will begin.

“I fully expect spring for a construction start but I don’t know what their timetable is,” West said.

West said the project will be discussed at a Feb. 14 meeting of the Anderson County Planning Commission.

“That’s the only political review board that they’ll have to go to,” West said. “Other than that, it’s crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s on their site plans and building plans, and that’s a staff function.

Powdersville County Councilman Ken Waters said Walmart’s decision to locate in Powdersville could spur more growth.

“This is just the beginning of things coming to Powdersville,” Waters said. “I think it’s going to be a good thing in the long run. I don’t know anybody that doesn’t use Walmart at some point or another.

“It’s going to help us out as far the economy goes, there will be jobs,” he continued. “We knew somebody was looking at the property, but for a long time we didn’t know what was coming. I’m looking forward to them coming to Powdersville.”