Following the announcement that the federal government has purchased the Prairie Correctional Facility in Appleton, State Sen. Torrey Westrom (R-Alexandria) and State Rep. Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck) will host a roundtable town meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Appleton VFW.
WHAT: Roundtable town meeting to discuss the Appleton prison reopening
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 20, from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
WHERE: Appleton VFW, 450 South Munsterman Street, Appleton, Minnesota 56208
“The meeting will give constituents an opportunity to hear an update on the federal purchase and planned reopening of the facility, ask questions and discuss what the development means for Appleton and communities throughout House District 12-A and West Central Minnesota,” Anderson said.
“After years of uncertainty, this is a major change for Appleton and the surrounding communities, and we want to make sure local residents, along with local, state and federal leaders, can be involved in the process to discuss any opportunities or concerns this reopening will mean for the area,” Westrom said. “The town hall will give people an opportunity to ask questions, share their perspectives and hear about the next steps.”
The Prairie Correctional Facility, known as the “Appleton prison,” originally started in the 1990s as a local community idea and effort to bring meaningful job creation to the town and surrounding area. The city of Appleton and partners built the facility to house prisoners, and it brought hundreds of jobs to the area for many years before eventually being sold to a private company to own and manage. However, it has been vacant since its closure in 2010, creating a significant economic impact for Appleton and the surrounding region.
Westrom and Anderson have consistently worked with local leaders to advocate for bringing back the hundreds of jobs this facility provided in past decades. They have encouraged state and federal leaders to recognize the value of the existing facility and the economic opportunities it could provide to Senate District 12 and West Central Minnesota.
The reopening under a federal contract is expected to bring approximately 450 jobs back to the region and provide a significant economic boost for Appleton and surrounding communities. The facility is an established, secure correctional facility that was specifically designed to house individuals being detained. It will provide an existing infrastructure that can be put back into service at a fraction of the cost of building new, rather than allowing the facility to remain vacant.
Westrom added, “I have worked with Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach and President Trump’s administration to make them aware of this relatively new facility and advocate for the facility’s reopening on behalf of our area."
The federal purchase provides an opportunity to return the facility to productive use, bring good jobs back to rural Minnesota, and make use of an existing taxpayer-funded investment. Westrom and Anderson want to welcome constituents and local leaders to attend and join in a civil discussion about the benefits and stresses that go along with 450 new jobs coming back to the Appleton area.