After months of talk about the construction of a prison in Franklin County, we now have an idea of how much the project is expected to cost.
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ark. — After months of talk regarding the construction of a prison in Franklin County, we now have an idea of how much the project is expected to cost.
The Arkansas Department of Corrections alongside Vanir Construction Management announced on Monday afternoon that the new 3,000-bed prison is estimated to be at a max cost of around $825 million.
In order to authorize the money for the project, Budget Chairmen Sen. Jonathan Dismang (R-Little Rock) and Rep. Lane Jean (R-Magnolia) filed appropriation bills totaling $750 million.
An additional $75 million had already been approved by the General Assembly as a part of Act 95 which was first introduced in early February as HB1396 and now will reappropriate the balances of capital improvement appropriations for the Department of Corrections.
The state had previously directed $405 million toward the total estimated cost of the prison.
“This estimate lets us move forward quickly on the long-overdue prison project and build a safer, stronger Arkansas. I look forward to working with our partners in the legislature to get this appropriation passed,” said Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Back in October 2024, Gov. Sanders first announced the purchase of the 815-acre plot in Franklin County to build the prison. The location of the prison would be close to more than 100,000 adults of working age who could potentially work at the prison. It is also a large enough property that would be ideal for offering privacy to both inmates and neighbors.
However, the construction of the prison in Franklin County has been previously met with some pushback from people.
“I’m trying to go all around the state get different perspectives, because there’s different issues in different counties, and it takes different solutions, but it’s always going to take money and listening to it and getting out and feel with people,” said Sen. Bryan King (R- Green Forrest). “Because what’s a problem in Fayetteville is not a problem somewhere else, and what is a bad problem somewhere else is not a problem here.”
Since talk of the prison first came to be, officials with the Arkansas Board of Corrections have continually worked alongside Governor Sanders and the legislature to help facilitate the construction.
“[We] are happy to be taking the next step in that important process,” said Benny Magness, the Chairman of the Arkansas Board of Corrections. “Everyone knows we need a new prison to address our state’s prison bed shortage, and I look forward to working with legislators to secure the funding necessary to build this facility quickly.”
The construction of the Franklin County prison is estimated to create thousands of jobs. Once the project is completed there will be nearly 800 employees.
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