By Rachel Basinger
Trib Live
GREENSBURG — Several weeks ago, state officials gathered in Centre County to participate in a ceremony to open the $200 million, 2,000-inmate State Correctional Institution in Benner Township.
As part of the opening, employee transfers had begun from the State Correctional Institute in Greensburg, with inmate transfers in progress.
Although the closures are expected to save the state $23 million annually, they will cost the local surrounding municipalities invaluable time and money with the loss of the prisoner work program.
Mt. Pleasant and Everson boroughs, as well as organizations such as Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale have taken advantage of the prisoner work program for several years.
Mike Banaszak, president of Everson Borough Council, said the borough started working with the prisoners in 2006. He said Everson has been fortunate to use their help for about seven years.
“One of our residents at the time worked at the prison, and he let it be known that their services were available,” he said.
In addition to putting up and taking down Christmas lights, prison workers helped with spring cleaning of the borough building. They also painting curbs annually and helped with necessary pothole patching in the spring.
The prisoners in the work program helped paint the Everson Volunteer Fire Department’s fire hall and did some work at Everson Evangelical Church.
“Their help has been invaluable, and we’re very fortunate that we have had their services,” Banaszak said.
Full story: Communities, theater feel loss of Greensburg prisoner work program