Village of Baldwin hopes a prison contract can revive the area

The tiny village of Baldwin is hoping a private prison contract bringing thousands of inmates from California to Michigan will help revitalize the area. Baldwin is 65 miles north of Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids Press reports many in Lake County are becoming optimistic about the contract that will reopen the North Lake Correctional Facility.

California prison officials have signed a $60-million-a-year contract with GEO Group.

Inmates will be housed at the former Michigan Youth Correctional Facility, from 2011 to 2014.

When the facility stopped housing youthful offenders five years ago, Baldwin lost its largest employer.

The tax base shrunk and some restaurants and stores closed. Now officials hope the new prison jobs will help rejuvenate the village.

Associated Press