Harbor Freight Tools plans to expand in Dillon County

DILLON Economically struggling Dillon County is getting a shot of Christmas cheer. Harbor Freight Tools is on the verge of a major expansion of its Dillon County distribution center, which is already one of the county’s largest employers. Dillon County Council chairman Aaron Gandy confirmed that a $60 million project that might bring as many as 200 jobs to Dillon and the surrounding area is an expansion of the Harbor Freight Tools complex in the I-95 Gateway Industrial Park in Dillon. The project has been given the name “Project Tool Shed” during discussions at public meetings in recent months. It’s a multicounty initiative involving Dillon, Marlboro and Marion counties. All three have been hard hit with job losses during the Great Recession. An official announcement is more than a week away, county development officials said.

Appeals court delays Duke Energy license renewal

CHARLOTTE A ruling by the South Carolina Court of Appeals could delay Duke Energy’s renewal of federal hydroelectric license for operations on the Catawba River. The Charlotte Observer reports the power company must show its operations won’t affect water quality before it can renew its license for 50 years. An administrative law court found South Carolina environmental regulators waited too long to oppose Duke’s renewal. But the appeals court overturned that in a 2-1 ruling. The state’s Department of Health and Environmental Control and environmental groups had appealed the administrative ruling. Duke could go back to the administrative law court for a trial on the merits of case. Or it could ask for rehearing by the Court of Appeals or appeal to the state Supreme Court.

GE raises dividend by 12 percent

NEW YORK Industrial conglomerate General Electric is raising its quarterly dividend by 12 percent while extending and expanding its share repurchase plan. The new quarterly dividend is 19 cents, up from 17 cents. The dividend will be paid on Jan. 25 to shareholders as of Dec. 24. The board of Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric Co. is also extending GE’s stock buyback plan through 2015. It’s authorizing up to $10 billion for additional shares.

The Florence Morning News and The Associated Press contributed.