An Arkansas legislator and Franklin County officials said Friday they were shocked this week to learn about the state’s plan to build a prison near Charleston and are worried about the project luring away employees from local businesses already struggling to find workers.
Sen. Gary Stubblefield, R-Branch, told KDYN Radio local lawmakers “were kept in the dark right up ‘til the last minute” about the state’s purchasing 815 acres in the Vesta community for $2.95 million with the intent of building a roughly 3,000-bed prison to help alleviate overcrowding in county jails.
The governor’s office formally announced the purchase of the former Toby Breeden Ranch on Thursday, touting the prison as an investment in public safety and economic development. The prison is expected to create several hundred construction jobs and employ 800 once it’s operational, according to a press release…