Plans for a possible federal prison in the North Country are moving forward. Federal officials held meetings with residents in Berlin and Gorham this week to discuss the project's possible impact. NHPR's Trish Anderton reports.
PLANS FOR A POSSIBLE FEDERAL PRISON IN THE NORTH COUNTRY ARE MOVING FORWARD. FEDERAL OFFICIALS HELD MEETINGS WITH RESIDENTS IN BERLIN AND GORHAM ON WEDNESDAY TO DISCUSS THE PROJECT’S POSSIBLE IMPACT. NEW HAMPSHIRE PUBLIC RADIO’S TRISH ANDERTON REPORTS.
BERLIN’S POLITICAL LEADERS BEGAN PUSHING FOR A FEDERAL PRISON A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHEN THE REGION’S PULP AND PAPER MILL COMPLEX SHUT DOWN. NOW THE MILLS ARE OPEN AGAIN, BUT MANY BELIEVE THERE’S STILL A PRESSING NEED TO DIVERSIFY THE ECONOMY HERE. CATHY MCDOWELL HEADS THE GROUP ANDROSCOGGIN VALLEY ECONOMIC RECOVERY. SHE ADDRESSED THE CROWD IN GORHAM.
even though the mill is up and running and we’re very glad about that, we also need to create other oppties in this region. the federal prison seems like a very good option and a good fit for our region and our communities.
THE FACILITY WOULD EMPLOY 300 TO 400 PEOPLE, WITH MOST JOBS STARTING IN THE 35-THOUSAND DOLLAR RANGE. BUT THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS DOESN’T HIRE WORKERS OVER AGE 37, SO THE FACILITY WOULD NOT PROVIDE JOBS FOR BERLIN’S AGING WORKFORCE. OFFICIALS EMPHASIZED THAT A PRISON WOULD NOT BE A QUICK FIX FOR ALL THE REGION’S PROBLEMS. BOP SENIOR SITE SELECTION SPECIALIST PAM CHANDLER SAID RESIDENTS SHOULD VIEW IT MORE OF A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT.
we’re just going to be a little piece of the puzzle if we come here, and it has to be more far reaching, far thinking, not about today or tomorrow but about your kids who are in school today, having decent jobs for them to stay.
BOP OFFICIALS WOULD NOT GIVE SPECIFIC COMMITMENTS TO HIRE LOCAL CONTRACTORS OR TO BUY PRODUCTS LOCALLY. BUT THEY SAID THE AREA COULD BENEFIT BY SELLING HOUSES AND SERVICES TO PRISON EMPLOYEES. GORHAM RESIDENT ANDREW SLOWEY AGREED. SLOWEY HAS SOME CONCERNS – FOR EXAMPLE, WHETHER PRISONERS’ FAMILIES WOULD ALSO MOVE INTO THE AREA. BUT OVERALL HE SUPPORTS THE PROJECT.
yknow it sounded like we might possibly have to worry about what kind of people it would bring in, but … it’s a lot of money, and its what people need.
BERLIN OFFICIALS HAVE IDENTIFIED THREE POTENTIAL SITES FOR A PRISON. THE BOP WILL SPEND THE NEXT FEW MONTHS EVALUATING THEM. IF THEY CHOOSE ONE, IT’LL TAKE ANOTHER FOUR AND A HALF YEARS TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. FOR NHPR NEWS I’M
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