Federal prison proposed for Columbia County

Federal prison proposed for Columbia County

A new federal prison to house illegal aliens could have a home in Columbia County. Commissioners heard a proposal to build the $60 million, low security facility during a special meeting last week. The prison would only house illegal aliens arrested and convicted of committing a crime while in the United States.

The facility would house a minimum of 900 inmates and as many as 1,254 inmates. The facility would create 230 jobs with a $7 million payroll.

Michael Harling, executive vice president of Municipal Capital Markets Group Inc., met with commissioners to explain the proposal. Municipal Capital Markets Group Inc. is a Texas-based investment-banking firm specializing in issuing municipal bonds to provide low-rate, tax-exempt financing to clients for capital improvements and acquisitions along with providing long term financing for correctional facilities.

The group is also seeking other locations for the proposed facilities, and a short list of eligible counties will be submitted to the federal government.

"Columbia County is well located for this project," Harling said.

The commissioners voted to submit a letter of support for the project allowing MCM to submit Columbia County as a possible location for the facility.