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Visitors to the new Chillicothe Correctional Center, which opens in October, get a look inside one of the facility’s five housing units. In total, the new prison will hold 1,636 offenders at capacity.

CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — The state’s bid to relieve its overcrowded women’s prisons and Livingston County’s economic development efforts crossed friendly paths Wednesday.

A host of state officials joined Gov. Matt Blunt in offering congratulations for the early completion of the Chillicothe Correctional Center. The sprawling 60-acre facility is located on the city’s north side and was built in less than two years after a frosty fall 2006 groundbreaking.

The new prison concludes more than four years of a struggle by the city to persuade state officials to keep the prison in Chillicothe. In early 2004, Gov. Bob Holden recommended closing the original 1887 building to achieve budget savings. The community, however, rallied and instead proposed a new prison as its replacement.

“They spoke with one voice,” said Missouri Department of Corrections Director Larry Crawford. ‘“We’ve got a plan.’ It’s good government in the making.”

The $120 million center features a capacity of 1,636 inmates and includes more than 400 security cameras stationed across the campus. It has a religious center, bakery, cosmetology lab and greenhouse.

“This is a memorable day and a story that will be told many times,” Chillicothe Mayor Chuck Haney told visitors gathered in the prison’s gymnasium. Guided tours allowed guests to see the quarters inmates will begin to occupy in October.

Bill Dunn Jr., vice president of J.E. Dunn Construction Co., said crews kept working at the site over winter months by keeping the frozen ground workable with heated pipes. The prison should boost the local economy, he added.

“They know there’s a deadline that has to be met,” he said of his employees.

Mr. Blunt said the prison is an improvement over the current facility on Third Street, which will be converted for other use once it becomes city property.

“This new center will improve safety and security for the public,” he said. “This center is really a great example of a partnership.”

The new prison also will assist staff to better supervise the inmates, Mr. Blunt continued, and relieve overcrowding at another Missouri women’s prison in Vandalia, Mo. All offender categories will be housed at Chillicothe.

Reducing recidivism will be the aim of such programs as substance abuse counseling, mental health and re-entry services.

The prison will save energy costs for taxpayers through an improved boiler; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system; and more efficient lighting.

The current work force of more than 300 will be bolstered by 300 new employees, with an estimated $1.7 million payroll.

Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah, considered the prison’s place in the state budget while a member of the Missouri House several years ago.

“We were losing jobs,” he said. “We were in a budget deficit. We were having real problems.”

Lawmakers passed a proposal in early 2006 to issue revenue bonds to finance the construction.

Ray Scherer can be reached at rscherer@npgco.com.