THOMSON, Illinois -
No timeline has been set but The Washington Post reports the Obama Administration will let Illinois officials know if Thomson is picked in the next four to six weeks. On Saturday, Illinois Senator Richard Durbin and other lawmakers toured the Thomson Correctional Center in hopes it is chosen by the Federal Government to house Guantanamo Bay Detainees.
The promise of 3000 jobs is a big selling point for a community that is facing a 10.5% unemployment rate. "We desperately need new jobs in this area. Too many people are out of work. There are people who need jobs," said Senator Durbin.
Officials say about 300 of the jobs will be filled by those from the outside. If Thomson becomes a federally ran facility, correctional officers must have a Bachelor's Degree and not over the age of 37 when they are hired.
Some fear that those who work there now without a degree or those who've been trained and shipped to other facilities may not be eligible for the positions. "The people around this areaÂ…they're not going to get the job," said Brook Boyson, who's against Thomson being ran by the government. "Nobody around this area is going to get the jobs." Boyson would rather see the prison open at the state level instead.
Insofar as the safety, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin believes those who will be guarding the detainees are highly trained and know what they're doing. "I tell you, they'll get in there, they're not getting out. That's all I have to say," Senator Harkin said.
The state-of-the-art, nearly empty facility has sat nearly empty since 2001. The community agrees that something needs to be done to fill the 1600 beds.
The promise of 3000 jobs is a big selling point for a community that is facing a 10.5% unemployment rate. "We desperately need new jobs in this area. Too many people are out of work. There are people who need jobs," said Senator Durbin.
Officials say about 300 of the jobs will be filled by those from the outside. If Thomson becomes a federally ran facility, correctional officers must have a Bachelor's Degree and not over the age of 37 when they are hired.
Some fear that those who work there now without a degree or those who've been trained and shipped to other facilities may not be eligible for the positions. "The people around this areaÂ…they're not going to get the job," said Brook Boyson, who's against Thomson being ran by the government. "Nobody around this area is going to get the jobs." Boyson would rather see the prison open at the state level instead.
Insofar as the safety, Iowa Senator Tom Harkin believes those who will be guarding the detainees are highly trained and know what they're doing. "I tell you, they'll get in there, they're not getting out. That's all I have to say," Senator Harkin said.
The state-of-the-art, nearly empty facility has sat nearly empty since 2001. The community agrees that something needs to be done to fill the 1600 beds.
