A bill that is currently awaiting the governor’s signature would increase the space at the East Mississippi Correctional Facility and could bring up to 100 additional jobs to East Mississippi.

State Rep. Greg Snowden, R-Meridian, said the local and private legislation would have a significant economic impact on the area.

Snowden said both the Mississippi Department of Corrections and the prison’s board wanted the additional bed space.

“MDOC needed the additional beds because this is a specialty prison designed for psychiatric care,” Snowden said. “This is a specialized sort of facility that is unique in our system, and as far as I know, is the only one in the state.”

Snowden’s comments came Monday during the Council of Governments meeting at Meridian Community College.

The prison, which is privately owned by the GEO Group Inc., currently houses 880 inmates.

Senior Warden Alton Caskey said the prison is contracted to hold 875 inmates but there is space for 1,000 beds in the facility. He said the additional 500 beds would not be immediately filled but would be available if MDOC needs them.

He said he is waiting to find out the details of the expansion, which would require construction of a new housing facility. Depending on the design of the expansion, Caskey said, there could be a need for up to 120 additional employees.

East Mississippi Correctional Facility currently employs 220 correctional officers and support staff.

But Caskey said finding people to apply for those new positions may pose a problem for the facility. He said he currently has a hard time finding people to apply for positions at the prison because of the nature of the business.

“It takes a certain mind set to work in a penitentiary,” Caskey said.

Caskey said he does not know when construction would begin or how long it would last.

In other business, COG members discussed the Legislative session, which ended last month.

State Rep. Charles Young, D-Meridian, told COG members he doesn’t believe Meridian will be successful in its bid to attract the proposed Civil Rights Museum. He said cities all over the state are vying for the museum.

Snowden said another local and private legislation would lower the fee charged to event organizers at the Lauderdale County Agri-Center from 7 percent of ticket sales to 3 percent. Snowden said arenas and other enclosed areas that host events only charge 3 percent. He said the change will help the Agri-Center compete.