Federal Prison to Move Forward

Actions taken by Sen. Robert Byrd have moved the federal prison in McDowell County one step closer to reality.

According to a press release from his office, Sen. Byrd spearheaded the effort to protect the $142 million previously approved for the prison, and managed to add another $89 million in building funds for the project.

Though the White House sought to cancel the funding, Sen. Byrd forged a coalition of Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Appropriations Committee who banded together to give the project the green light. The legislation now heads to the full Senate for action.

“The fact that it passed the Appropriations Committee is very significant and is a major milestone,” Commissioner Carl Urps commented. “Approval by that committee removes a major funding hurdle that we no longer face.

“Commissioner Lambert, I, and several other local officials recently met with Sen. Byrd, who vowed to fight for this very important county project. Today's announcement proves once again that Sen. Byrd is a man of his word. His integrity and clout are unmatched. Our county and our state owe him an immense debt of gratitude.”

In May, Byrd announced that Clark Design Build, LLC Bethesda, Maryland will design the facility.

Sen. Byrd's announcement followed another significant milestone for the McDowell County Commission and the EDA, who have worked in conjunction with the senator on the project.

Earlier in the afternoon, the EDA and the County Commission signed deeds transferring surface and mineral rights to the US government.

Urps explained that the County Commission had earlier transferred 371 acres to the FDA to develop the Industrial Park, of which the federal prison would be the cornerstone. Once it was developed, the EDA transferred the property to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The deed transfers, Urps said, “are a great step toward the completion of the industrial part and the development of a federal prison site. We anticipate construction to begin the third quarter of this year,” he said.

--Cathy Patton (Welch News)