Cities and counties throughout Arkansas are deciding whether to get in the running for a proposed $100 million prison -which comes with a maximum-security rating and some of the state's most difficult inmates, but hundreds of new jobs.
The Arkansas Department of Correction has given communities until Oct. 24 to submit paperwork if they want to host the new prison. If funding is approved, the facility is expected to employ 250 people with an average hourly salary of $12.75. It could be expanded to eventually include 500 jobs.
Magnolia and Lawrence County are among the communities that are considering submitting proposals. Lawrence County Judge Dale Freeman says the prison would have a major economic impact on his county, which last year landed its first factory in more than 40 years.
