The Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority (VLCIA) and Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) announced an economic development partnership for future construction of a private prison.

“This is (for) a future need that we don’t even know what it’ll be yet,” Frank Betancourt, CCA’s vice president of real estate development said. “There’s no ground breaking to announce. When the need (for a facility) does arrive, we can be the first ones to offer (our services).”

For the past year, CCA conducted a site search for a potential private prison in the Southeast. After studying 30 sites in 10 counties, CCA narrowed its selection to three sites, Jay Hollis, CCA project manager of site acquisition, said.

“It’s a very calculated process (deciding) where to put one of these locations,” Hollis said. “We do a lot of analysis before putting our foot on the ground.”

Following the completion of engineering and feasibility reports, Valdosta/Lowndes County was chosen.

“Our Valdosta/Lowndes County site quickly became our primary due to its local and regional workforce, collaboration of local leadership, site characteristics, proximity to necessary services and infrastructure, and accessibility to name a few,” Hollis said. “This site also provides the potential for the creation of hundreds of jobs, significant tax revenues that go toward local schools and infrastructure, and the purchasing of local goods and services in the community.”

By going ahead and completing this phase in the process, CCA will be able to focus solely on the construction phase of the project when the time comes to build a site.

“What this partnership does is take a year off of the development process,” Hollis said. “We believe we’ll have a leg up when (a) development (opportunity) arrives.”

Since CCA has partnered with the Valdosta/Lowndes County community, once the state or federal government has a need for a private prison, a request for proposal will be posted.

“We’ll respond to it with this site,” Betancourt said.

In roughly two to five years, CCA predicts the construction of a private prison to begin in Lowndes County, located on Highway 84 off Inner Perimeter Road.

Once construction begins, the project should take 18 months to complete, Allan Ricketts, VLCIA project manager, said.

While site specific plans have not been designed, the average facility accommodates between 1,000 and 3,000 beds, Betancourt said.

Prisoners can come from the federal government, state government and regional states, and CCA plans to focus on housing federal and state inmates at the future location.

Currently, none of CCA’s Georgia locations house out of state prisoners, Hollis said.

The project is expected to create about 400 jobs, to include management, administrative support, maintenance/safety, general medical, education and rehabilitation programs.

An employee’s average annual income will be between $35,000 and $85,000. Of these positions, 70 percent will receive between $45,000 and $50,000 a year, along with medical and dental insurance and benefits.

“Correctional facilities are very stable once they’re established and operating,” Hollis said.

FACTS ABOUT CCA

Since 1983, CCA has been working with the federal, state and local government, offering private prisons, jails and detention facilities.

Today, CCA employs roughly 17,000 people throughout the country. In Georgia, CCA employs 1,500 employees.

CCA manages approximately 75,000 inmates including males, females, and juveniles at all security levels, in more than 60 facilities under contract for management in 19 states and the District of Columbia.

CCA partners with all three federal corrections agencies, almost half of all states and several municipalities.

There are five facilities in Georgia – Nicholls, McRae, Gainesville, Lumpkin and Alamo.

There are five facilities in Florida – Panama City, Lecanto, Graceville, Brooksville, Lake City and Moore Haven.

Source: www.correctionscorp.com/facilities/.

Benefits of CCA

Sales taxes and property taxes of facilities will be paid for by CCA.

Utilities and construction of facilities will be paid for by CCA.

Revenue that may fund new hospitals, better roads, improved schools and other public priorities are provided by CCA.

Roughly 200 jobs, a majority coming from area workers, are created to build new projects.

Employees of new facilities receive competitive salaries, disability insurance, medical coverage, paid training, company-sponsored professional development opportunities, a 401 (k) retirement savings plan and more.

New facilities help to revitalize and create area businesses.

Source: www.correctionscorp.com/economic-development/.

Careers with CCA facilities

Careers in Security – corrections officers, senior corrections officers, assistant shift supervisors, shift supervisors, captains and unit managers, assistant chiefs of security, chiefs of security and chiefs of unit management, assistant wardens and wardens.

Careers in Education – addictions treatment professionals, faith-based services professionals, academic educators, life skills instructors and vocational instructors.

Careers for Military – correctional officer, senior correctional officer, unit manager, recreation manager, maintenance manager, health services, shift supervisor, chief of security, program manager, assistant warden and warden.

Careers in Healthcare – nursing, physician, mental health, dentists and mid-level providers

Management/Administrative Support – clerks, managers, human resources, maintenance, receptionist, secretary, and more.

Source: www.correctionscorp.com/careers/.