Missouri Announces Redevelopment Plans, Job Opportunities for Abandoned Prison Site

According to a recently published State of Missouri Governor's press release, Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has announced the redevelopment of land that will take place where the Missouri State Penitentiary currently stands. On this land there will be a new federal courthouse funded by the city, county, and state. There will also be public and private development on gorgeous riverfront property.

Governor Blunt said about the redevelopment, "Since I became governor we have removed barriers to economic growth and opportunity and have helped create an economic climate that has allowed Missourians to create nearly 85,000 new jobs. With this important project we are creating opportunities for new growth and new jobs in the heart of our state's capital and providing an outstanding opportunity to make downtown Jefferson City an even more vital part of the community."

From 1836 until 2004, the Missouri State Penitentiary housed many of the state's prisoners. With the building and opening of the brand new Jefferson City Correctional Center on the east side of town, the 142-acre Missouri State Penitentiary was practically obsolete. The new correctional center also allowed the land that the penitentiary once stood on be used for redevelopment. The Governor assures that this won't be like any other redevelopment project either. It will go to help create jobs for people within the community. It will additionally create homes for residents as well.

The abandoned Missouri State Penitentiary will be demolished soon and will make way for a new federal courthouse in the city. The courthouse will only sit on eight of the 142 acres available. The courthouse is also a whopping $71 million state and county investment, but the state hopes that it will make the federal government presence known in the Jefferson City area and in the state of Missouri.