Digging In—Participating in a groundbreaking ceremony for a new medium security state prison in Grayson County, Va. are (from left) Delmar Cornett of Grayson Citizens for Good Jobs and Growth, Grayson County Supervisors Doug Carrico, Larry Bartlett, Ralph Tuggle, Mike Maynard and Joe Vaughan, State Sen. Roscoe Reynolds, State Sen. William C. Wampler Jr., Gene Johnson with the Virginia Department of Corrections and Del. Bill Carrico. Photo by Coby LaRue

Groundbreaking held for Grayson County prison project

INDEPENDENCE, Va.—Local and state officials gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony Monday in a pasture that soon will host a new medium security prison.

The 98.3-acre prison site is near the town limits, off U.S. 58 on Cimarron Lane. The prison is expected to employ about 350 people and will have 1,024 inmate beds.

The expected cost of the facility is more than $90 million, including the $88.4 million price tag of the prison and the more than three- quarter million dollars in preparation work that was done prior to the final agreement to build the facility. The prep work included site evaluation and selection and necessary environmental testing. Grayson County Manager Bill Ring said Monday that construction was scheduled to begin immediately after the groundbreaking. "The grading will proceed this week," said Ring.

Several large backhoes and other pieces of earth moving equipment were poised to begin work around the site.

Ring said the timeline shows the prison being completed by November 2009 and opening in November 2010.

As part of the prison's procedure, a pre-employment open house and training session will be held prior to the prison's opening.

Even though the proposed prison opening is more than two years away, Ring said that those interested in working at the facility can apply through the Virginia Employment Commission Office in Galax. That organization is handling the application process.

In addition, for more information, those interested may visit the Virginia Department of Corrections Web site at www.vadoc.virginia.gov/employ. Comments

During comments prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, Gene Johnson of the Virginia Department of Corrections said the state will "do everything we can to be a good neighbor."

Johnson joked, "In our particular business, you're not always welcome. In this particular case, we really feel welcome."

Johnson was among a number of speakers at the event, including Grayson County Board of Supervisors Chairman Ralph Tuggle, Grayson County Manager Bill Ring, and Delmer Cornet of Grayson Citizens for Good Jobs and Growth.

 

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