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photo by Adam Koob
Correction Cooperation of America Warden Vance Laughlin reviews emails at the soon-to-open prison facility in Adams County.
CCA prison had significant impact in Wilkinson County
Published Friday, April 3, 2009
NATCHEZ — To see the positive economic impact the county’s new prison is expected to have on the community, Natchez residents don’t have to look very far.
Just down the road in Wilkinson County, Corrections Cooperation of America has been operating a prison for more than a decade.
And Woodville Mayor Gary D’Aquilla said the facility’s opening has translated into monetary gain for the county.
“It’s been great for us,” D’Aquilla said. “We’re glad they’re here.”
Chancery Clerk and President of the Wilkinson County Economic Development Authority Thomas Tolliver said CCA has meant funding to purchase a 164-aecr plot of land for a recreation facility, lowered unemployment rates and led to an increase in home and automobile ownership.
“It had a substantial impact on this community,” Tolliver said.
He estimates up to 70 percent of the prison’s approximately 240 employees live in Wilkinson County.
And here in Adams County local officials are hoping, and budgeting, for that same positive impact.
Adams County Administrator Cathy Walker said the projected $1.2 million in yearly taxes the Adams County facility is expected to pay will help bolster the county’s budget.
“It’s going to make a tremendous difference,” Walker said. “A million dollars makes a big difference in the budget.”
In Natchez, City Clerk Donnie Holloway said while the city won’t be paid any property taxes from CCA, he believes sales tax should increase with the addition of new jobs.
CCA representatives have estimated they’ll need to hire more than 400 new employees to run the facility.
“Hopefully this will be good for us,” Holloway said. “I feel like it will be.”
But CCA’s benefit will reach beyond just tax dollars in the city and county.
The prison is expected to generate $200,000 a year in revenue for Natchez Waterworks, handling the sewage needs, and $210,000 in yearly revenue for the Adams County Water Association, providing the facility with water.
“It’s been a real plus for us,” said Ken Herring, General Manager of the ACWA.
And CCA Warden Vance Laughlin said in an effort to further support the local economy the facility will enter supply contracts with local companies when possible.
“We want to do as much as we can locally,” Laughlin said.
The facility already has a long-term contract with a local janitorial supply company and a printing company.
But Laughlin said it’s difficult to estimate what impact those contracts, and dollars being spent by new employees, will have until the jail is fully operational.
And to keep the facility running, Laughlin needs a small army of employees.
While jobs at the new facility will be first advertised within the company, Laughlin estimated no more than 20 percent of the new hires would be coming from within the facility.
To stock the employee pool, Laughlin has arranged a job fair at the Natchez Convention Center April 20-22.
Laughlin said all applicants must wait until then to apply.
Comments
Posted by StuWhoMoved (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 1:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So whats the pay scale gonna look like at this place? Is it gonna be like Angola and have a huge turnover rate due to the low pay?
Posted by guy2co (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 1:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stu I toured the site and they said the minimum would be $14 an hour.
Posted by traceb (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I've toured the sight also and was very impressed with the facility and warden. Both are a good plus for Natchez. We need to be grateful for the positive things in life instead of pointing out the negative. Life is what you make of it.
Posted by funbustours (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 6:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lots of my in-laws, and their friends work at CCA in Woodville, and all are doing quite well.
Posted by tiredoflosers (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 8:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The pay is not what you think it is going to be. Only a handfull will make the money not the babysitters. CCA is not all it is cracked up to be.
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What all types of jobs do they have at CCA? Will they hire both female, and males, or mainly males? Will the inmates all be male, or will there be females too? I believe that it would take a special and brave person to work there. I've heard they will be serving 10,000 meals a day, so I'm guessing there will have to be lots of cafeteria workers to cook and wash dishes, unless they plan on making the inmates work the cafeteria.
Some school kids recently went there, on a tour of the new facility (why, I don't know), and the word is, that some of them thought the prison quite cool and would be much better than going to school. I told my informant to make sure to tell those kids that school gets out at 2:45 p each day, at which time they get to go home to moma, but when in prison, you don't get out when the bell rings, no moma to tuck you in at night, and sometimes that could last 2 years, 10 years, or for the rest of your life. So that big flat screen TV in there that looks so neat at first would probably get old after a few years.
Prison isn't glamorous kids, get an education and stay out of trouble. Be the warden or the guard, but not the inmate.
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
tiredoflosers, for the unemployed, a paying job is better than none.
Posted by donnabulldog (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with time4change. Any job is better than no job!! Dwell on the positve!
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you've never been to Natchez and are considering applying to CCA. http://www.visitnatchez.com/
Posted by pikeresident (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Natchez sees a tremendous economic impact from this prison. You really need some industry to come back to Natchez. Contrary to the Garden Clubs' deep-rooted beliefs, Natchez cannot survive on tourism alone. As a Natchez native I hate to see that great little town die-out as it has. Pike Co. was the 1st choice for this prison but it was voted against. I hope the ones that voted against it will soon see the mistake they made! Hopefully this will only be the beginning for new industries to move back to Natchez!
Posted by time4change (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What time of day will the job fair be held on April 20-22? This would be a good thing to know.
Posted by hootandholla (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe that there are people complaining about the "type" of jobs CCA will be bringing to Natchez. Like time4change posted, a paying job is better than no job. And while not every one of the 400+ new positions will be of the $14/hour variety, there will be enough to keep the unemployed working.
And those jobs means more people will be spending money, allowing for other people to remain employed. It's a trickle down effect, and something that we desperately need.
Posted by Username (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If someone really wants to make some money off the private prisons you need to become a lawmaker a judge or a DA and own stock in the prision and then the stock will go up with the number of people you send to prison.It's as simple as that,it's done everyday all over the country.
I heard the other day that America who has only 3% of the worlds population has more prisoners than any other country in the world, in america about 1 out of 100 adults are in prison but the shocking stat to me was that 1 out of every 31 adults in America are in jail or on probation or parole and we (America) still have the highest violent crime rate in the world.
Posted by LOVESNATCHEZ (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
'TIREDOFLOSERS", Your name fits you. Stop being so damned negative! If you're a loser, who's fault is that? If you need a job, go apply. Hell, it's people like you who keep GET RICH QUICK schemes going. Work for your pay. A lot of people would love to work for minimum wage with insurance, cool in the summer, warm in the winter and vacation time.
Posted by NatchezEnema (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 6:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am glad to hear about this. We need the new jobs. And as usual, a lot of our historical nuts didn't want this prison anywhere close to Natchez. Remember? It would be bad for our tourism. I am glad to see them disapointed. I just hope this extra tax money from this prison is not already spent before we even get it. At the rate of waste and mismanagement our downtown city finaces are run, I hope the extra money is watched better than the money Binky had control of! (BINKYGATE)
Posted by bbc (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The mind set of most people on the location of the prison in Natchez is really sad. Have you stopped to look at the economy lately? People are struggling, a decent paying job is better than no job at all. I have worked for the Federal Prison system for 19 years, and continue to enjoy the benefits (promotion, vacation, travel, etc.). I remember when talk was circulating about a Federal Prison locating in Natchez, MS years ago; I can't tell you the number of former Miss-Lou residents who work for the Federal System were excited about the possibility of returning to the Miss-Lou and working at a Federal Prison close to home. Well, Yazoo City (FCI Yazoo City) benefited from Natchez's negativity, and dashed the hopes of former citizens who could have returned home to the Miss-Lou. Stop the negativity, and look at the positive side of a new industry locating in the dying Miss-Lou area.
Posted by Username (anonymous) on April 3, 2009 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's saddens me deeply to know that one man's views of keeping another man in a cage is an industry that could help boost the economy.
Posted by escapee (anonymous) on April 4, 2009 at 1:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I worked at the one in Woodville 4 years ago. The regular correctional officers made $8.63 hr. to start. But they had great health benifits and lots of paid time off, so it really offset the low pay. In this economy I think most people would be happy to have even a low paying job. But it is dealing with a bunch of big babies, who will test you at every turn, make no mistake.
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