PRESCOTT ARIZONA REAL ESTATE – PRISON

The Daily Courier

Prison opponents can say “whew!” and prison supporters can say “boo!”, but no one gets to relax and proclaim victory in a community where jobs remain scarce and tax revenue is harder to come by than rain.

The Fain Signature Group is a business, pure and simple. It employs a number of residents both directly and indirectly, it adds to the town coffers and, oh, by the way, the Fains have owned land in what’s currently known as Prescott Valley since the days of Millard Fillmore. The fact that they – as a business – pursued the prison so passionately makes economic sense on their part. It’s business.

Previously in this space we have applauded the Fain Signature Group for its efforts to expand job growth and provide town revenue. Also in this space, we have denounced its efforts to attract a prison, which, as history has now shown twice, is categorically against the will of the people.

The prison’s potential economic impacts were estimates only, and no one on either side could precisely say for certain how many local residents would get jobs. CCA officials also declined to speculate how much water a prison in Prescott Valley would use. And then there’s the intangible stigma of inheriting a “prison town” label that does little to boost a town’s image or unique character.

Now it’s a clean slate. Surely the Fain Signature Group will present new proposals for economic development, as will the Town of Prescott Valley and all other would-be commercial investors. As long as it’s all in the name of job growth, economic sustainability and a cooperative environment with the residents.

And as long as nobody mentions the ‘p’-word again.