McDowell prison funding secured
By CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
WELCH — The release of more than $189 million in federal dollars will allow for the long-awaited start of construction on a new federal prison for McDowell County , U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday.
“The waiting is finally over,” Byrd, who was joined Monday in making the announcement by U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said. “With these construction dollars, no longer is it a question of if the McDowell County federal prison will be built — now it is a question of when it will be open.”
During the past year, Byrd led a bipartisan coalition of senators from several states to prevent a proposed elimination of millions in construction funds by the White House.
“This prison will be a dynamic economic development tool for southern West Virginia , as it has already started generating growth in McDowell County ,” Rockefeller said in the joint announcement. “Sen. Byrd, Congressman Rahall, and I continue to work toward the day when this prison opens its doors. And with these crucial dollars now secure, we are one enormous step closer to seeing our vision become reality.”
“When Sen. Byrd sets his sights, great things can happen,” Rahall said. “He has worked tirelessly to reinvigorate the economy of southern West Virginia and especially McDowell County . The fruits of his labors are now being harvested and will return tenfold to our regional economy.”
Byrd said the Bureau of Prisons is obligating the final construction funding — more than $189 million — for Clark Design/Build LLC's work to construct the medium-security facility. The total project cost is estimated at $232 million.
The prison will include 1,280 beds for inmates, including 1,152 at the medium-security facility and 128 at an adjacent work camp, and will employ more than 300 people. The facility is expected to help pump $35 million annually into the economy of McDowell and Wyoming counties.
“This project means hundreds of new jobs for southern West Virginia ,” Byrd said. “It means new investments in the infrastructure. It means better opportunities for the future. This is a very good day for southern West Virginia .”
