NATCHEZ — When Bill 3175 became law Monday, it helped to secure jobs and economic prosperity for the future of Adams County.

The bill signed by Gov. Haley Barbour allows the Adams County Correctional Center, under construction by the Corrections Corporation of America, to house both federal and state inmates.

“This new facility is not only helping to fill a need for more prison beds but is also enhancing the economy of southwest Mississippi by providing at least 300 new full-time jobs,” Barbour said.

CCA marketing director Steve Owen said now that the facility has the OK to house federal inmates the prison can pursue contracts to house federal prisoners.

And those federal prisoners are meant to keep the prison running at maximum capacity.

“It improves our long-term viability,” he said. “It broadens our customer base.”

And that broadened customer base allows the prison to run at maximum capacity and provide steady employment for the community.

Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell said the bill could be looked at as a contract that allows jobs in the county.

“It makes no sense to have an empty facility,” he said.

Owen clarified the new CCA facility will not be a federal facility but will house federal inmates.

“It’s going to be CCA owned and operated,” he said.

Owen added that while the facility will house federal and state inmates the security level of inmates will remain the same.

“It’s capped at medium security,” he said.

And it won’t be long before the facility has an opportunity to house its first offenders.

Owen said the facility is still projected to open on schedule.

The facility, to house close to 1,700 inmates, is scheduled to be operational by Jan. 1.