Gunnison prison growing again

The prison has been an economic boon to this part of Utah. The Six County Association of Governments named it the economic development Business of the Year.

"It's because of the fiscal impact they have had, the jobs they have created," said Mt. Pleasant Mayor Chesley Christensen, who chairs the association. "They're creating more all the time."

When the prison expansions are complete, CUCF will house close to 2,000 inmates. The prison's master plan has infrastructure to house up to 4,600 inmates. State corrections officials and community leaders say expanding beyond 2,000 beds would require public hearings.

"The community itself likes that 2,000-bed limit," said Hermansen. "I think they'd have to sing a pretty good song to get the community to back them on more."

The Utah Department of Corrections is in the midst of a site study for a possible third prison. Sites being looked at include expanding the existing facility at Point of the Mountain, building in Tooele County's Rush Valley or at a site near the Salt Lake Valley landfill.

"It's clear from our current growth patterns that at some point we will have to expand," said state corrections spokeswoman Angie Welling. "Current growth is between 220 and 230 inmates per year. We know given growth patterns, we need to be prepared at some point to expand."

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