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.