Moline, IL ... Rep. Rich Morthland (R-Cordova) and Rep. Jim Sacia (R-Freeport) delivered a letter yesterday to Governor Quinn and his staff requesting he work to give the Thomson Correctional Center from the state of Illinois to the Federal Bureau of Prisons in exchange for their commitment to pay off the remaining mortgage of $61 million and open the facility.
"There is great potential by putting this prison to use, and instead it sits idle." Morthland said. "Thomson Correctional Center has been unoccupied and unused for twelve years now and the sale has been on the table for more than 2 ½ years. This is unacceptable."
Estimates suggest that putting this prison facility to use will create an additional 1,100 direct and indirect new jobs, and will inject more than $200 million per year into the economy of Carroll County, Whiteside County, and surrounding counties.
"I appreciate the Governor and other legislators ongoing efforts to complete the sale and transfer of Thomson," said Morthland. "While this step is bold, Representative Sacia and I believe it is necessary."
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