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IRON RIVER TWP. -- Business closures are an unfortunate sign of the times, and now prisons across the state are being affected.  One of the facilities on the chopping block is Camp Ottawa in Iron County.  The camp is a minimum security facility that focuses on prisoner rehabilitation.

Closing the camp would make a broad impact on the surrounding communities.

"Every business I've talked to knows they're going to lose money right down the line," said Iron River Township supervisor Mark Polley.  "They'll be laying off people; restaurants, whatever, so they're all affected by this."

Officials are hoping that the farm has one selling point that will keep the doors open:  their sawmill.  Camp Ottawa is the only prison farm in the state that has a functioning mill that not only provides goods that result in income for Michigan, it also provides inmate training so they can succeed once they get out.

Township officials and their consultant have discussed the issue with legislators as well as starting a petition drive.

The camp employs nearly fifty people, all of whom would lose their jobs if the prison closes.

"The department told us that they no longer have vacancies so they couldn't just pop people into a vacant spot," said Ron Basso, the township's consultant.

It would also mean that the struggling West Iron County School district would lose state monies from 43 students.

"If the students were to leave, the schools would lose somewhere around $300,000 a year in school aid," Basso said.

Township residents would suffer as well.  Closing the facility would mean more costs for residents since Camp Ottawa pays around $60,000 a year for water and sewer.  Those costs would be passed on to consumers, nearly doubling their monthly bills.

Legislators are expected to make a decision near the end of the month.