Albemarle -Dust settled as earthmovers stopped their grading work long enough for Correction Secretary Mack Jarvis and Stanly County Commissioners to break ground July 11 for a new prison.

"Albemarle Correctional Institution will be an investment in people," Secretary Jarvis told the crowd. "This community will provide a good home and place to raise families for the prison’s 300 employees. Many of the workers will be hired from this community." More than 100 people braved the late morning summer heat to attend the ceremony that marked the start of construction of the $22 million medium-security prison. Near the edge of the grading work, a tent stood at the site of the ceremony and offered shade for a few. The crowd included Stanly county officials, prison managers and several reporters who were transported into the construction site by bus from the nearby North Carolina Air National Guard facility where a reception was held after the event.

Secretary Jarvis said the prison will be an investment in public safety and economic development. He said the prison’s annual payroll will total $9.7 million and the prison will make local purchases of about $945,000 and have another $2.5 million in annual operating expenses.

Stanly County Commissioners Chairman David Morgan said the county’s economy will receive a boost from 500 new jobs arriving with the Albemarle Correctional Institution and Patrick Industries, a new manufacturing plant moving into the community.

Jarvis thanked the Stanly County Commissioners for their support of the prison. He said the ground breaking ceremony was a celebration of their persistence and hard work.

Jarvis credited Gov. Jim Hunt for his leadership in responding to the state’s crime problems and in seeking funding for construction of the prison. "Gov. Hunt’s leadership helped us regain control of the correction system and restore public faith in it," Secretary Jarvis said. "The federal courts recognized these accomplishments. Just a few months ago, I received an order signed by a federal judge ending the twelve years of federal court supervision of the North Carolina prison system. This order salutes the governor’s efforts, and it shows the court’s appreciation of the work of correction employees."

The new state prison near Albemarle will provide space for more than 600 adult male prisoners keeping violent offenders imprisoned longer and putting more prisoners to work.

Photos provided by the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce.

NC DOC Correction News- August 1997
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