PICKENS — With November comes Small Business Month, and the Pickens Revitalization Association (PRA) is committed to continuing and expanding its Shop Local initiative, Gift of Pickens.

In its first year, the Gift of Pickens program provided more than $7,000 to be spent at local businesses in Pickens. And it is due to that success that organizers will continue with the program this year.

The Gift of Pickens program is an economic development tool designed to stimulate local