Construction Funds for McDowell Prison on the Way
http://www.huntingtonnews.net/state/070227-staff-pridon.html
Washington, DC
The final construction dollars for the McDowell County federal prison are on the way,
clearing the way for work to continue on the new facility, announced U.S. Senator
Robert C. Byrd, D-WV.
"The waiting is finally over. 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," Byrd said.
Byrd was joined by U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and Third District Congressman Nick
J. Rahall, both D-WV, in making the funding announcement on Monday. Both Rockefeller
and Rahall were strong partners with Byrd in attracting the Federal Bureau of Prisons
(BOP) to Southern West Virginia.
"This prison will be a dynamic economic development tool for Southern West Virginia,
as it has already started generating growth in McDowell County," said Rockefeller.
"Senator 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."
"We're all singing from the Robert C. Byrd Choir, and, today, we say, 'Amen!' When
Senator Byrd sets his sights, great things can happen. He has worked tirelessly to
reinvigorate the economy of Southern West Virginia and especially McDowell County,"
Rahall explained. "The fruits of his labors are now being harvested and will return
tenfold to our regional economy."
The Bureau of Prisons is obligating the final construction funding -- more than $189
million -- for Clark Design/Build LLC's work to build the medium-security facility.
Overall, the project cost for the McDowell County facility is more than $232 million.
The McDowell facility will provide 1,280 beds (1,152 at the medium-security facility
and 128 at the adjacent work camp), and will employ more than 300 people. Overall,
the annual economic benefit for McDowell and Wyoming counties is estimated at
approximately $35 million.
"This project means hundreds of new jobs for Southern West Virginia. It means new
investments in the infrastructure. It means better opportunities for the future,"
Byrd explained. "This is a very good day for Southern West Virginia."
During the past year, Byrd led a bipartisan coalition of Senators from several states
to prevent a proposed elimination of BOP construction funding, including millions of
dollars already approved for the McDowell County facility. Now, with the release of
the final construction funding, that bipartisan effort has paid off for Southern West
Virginia.
The new prison will be located near the border of McDowell and Wyoming counties, and
very close to the proposed interchange of Route 52/the King Coal Highway and the
Coalfields Expressway.
On at least four separate occasions between March 1997 and June 1998, at Byrd's
direction, BOP officials visited McDowell County looking for a site for a federal
prison. Subsequently, with Byrd's encouragement, BOP officials conducted additional
visits to the Indian Ridge Industrial Park and met with local officials regarding
criteria for a prison site. To help move the site forward, Byrd added $5 million to
legislation in 1999 for a water/sewer line extension at the Indian Ridge site. He
also included $1.25 million in legislation in 2004 for infrastructure and site
development at the Indian Ridge Industrial Park.
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I intend to last long enough to put out of business all *****-suckers
and other beneficiaries of the institutionalized slavery and genocide.
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Humvees, or calls in air-strikes. It doesn't have a high command, or
high security, or a high budget. The army that can defeat terrorism
does battle quietly, clearing minefields and vaccinating children. It
undermines military dictatorships and military lobbyists. It subverts
sweatshops and special interests.Where people feel powerless, it
helps them organize for change, and where people are powerful, it
reminds them of their responsibility." ~~~~ Author Unknown ~~~~
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