LAND WANTED: State of Arkansas searching for land for new prison; Is northwest Arkansas a possibility?

HARRISON, Ark. (KY3) – The Arkansas Board of Corrections and the Arkansas Division of Corrections (DOC) issued a public discover for submissions for communities to specific curiosity in donating land for the development of a brand new maximum-security facility.

In accordance with a DOC, the brand new jail would home roughly 1,000 inmates. The Arkansas Division of Corrections will consider submissions for choice.

Many in north Arkansas have speculated if there may be curiosity in and round Boone County to supply a donation.

“As of proper now, I might say no, nevertheless it is a chance that we’re prepared to debate,” stated County Choose Robert Hathaway.

Hathaway says he feels job creation all the time seems glorious from the floor. Nonetheless, an estimated 370 jobs created by the brand new facility could be tough on an already strained workforce in north Arkansas.

“I might hope in the event that they’re going to do a whole lot of hiring, they’d rent regionally first,” he stated. “However as you recognize, we’ve had labor shortages right here for years, so then they must transfer folks in, and you then begin coping with the housing scarcity. Discovering housing for them.”

In accordance with the DOC, a brand new facility would have a big financial impression, with an annual payroll of roughly $21 million. The ability may have an estimated working price range of roughly $2 million.

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