Department of Corrections is shutting down Camp Ottawa.
Read more: Local, State, Business, Community, Department of Corrections, Budget Cuts, West Iron County Schools, Economy, Unemployment, Economic Development
IRON RIVER -- Iron River was one of the communities hit hard by Friday's announcement that Camp Ottawa made the list of closures. It's a minimum security prison farm. The closure means that 51 people will be without jobs and will most likely have to relocate in order to find work. Iron River officials feel that this will be devastating to their already struggling economy.
Camp Ottawa was busy Friday afternoon, but that could all change by the end of the year. No activity there could mean a lot less activity in the city of Iron River.
"We have such a need for jobs here in this whole community, we have for a long time. That alone will impact economically," said Iron River mayor Roger Zanon.
It's not just the loss of jobs at the prison farm. If those workers from Camp Ottawa relocate, they'll bring their families with them, creating a trickle-down effect that will affect businesses and the school system.
The camp closure could have a devastating impact on the already struggling West Iron County school district. They'd already made the decision to shut down the middle school due to budget problems, but now they stand to lost up to 40 students and $300,000 in state funding.
The entire community has fought hard to keep the camp open, conducting a petition drive and lobbying legislators. They had hoped that the prison's sawmill operation--the only one in the state--would sway the decision in their favor.
"The people that are housed at this camp come out of there with a skill and a skill that helps them not get back into the system," said Iron River economic development director, Julie Melchiori.
Now the prisoners from Camp Ottawa will be transfered to other facilities throughout the state or released into the public.
As for the city of Iron River?
"Well, we will survive," Zanon said. "I mean, there's no question about that, but it's possible that some businesses even will shut down and the taxes and everything that these people--48 homes--are paying in this community is going to also hurt."
Camp Ottawa is one of three prison farms in the U.P. that the Department of Corrections has decided to shut down. However, Iron River Township officials have stated that they don't intend to give up the fight to keep the facility open and are already planning what their next steps are going to be.
