GILMER PRISON DEDICATED TODAY - Few Local Residents Hired

(05/29/2003)

The new Federal Correctional Facility in Gilmer County will be officially dedicated today. U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) will speak at the invitation-only event, but an open house for the general public will be held tomorrow. . Federal officials are estimating 350 people will have jobs at the prison when it's fully staffed, generating $30 million for the economy. The project was to have brought jobs to Gilmer County and the immediate region. The Hur Herald has been unable to obtain the number of people hired from Gilmer, Calhoun and the region. Those being hired appear to be former employees of the federal system. Calhoun residents, including recent college graduates, have been unable to obtain employment, including several who have extensive work experience in job catagories. The facility includes both a 1,500-bed medium-security facility and a small 128-bed minimum-security satellite work camp. The facility is already up and operating with inmates, even though it is not fully staffed. Inmates started arriving at the site in March. The prison complex is expected to reach full capacity by October 2003.

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