An Arkansas legislator and Franklin County officials said Friday they were shocked this week to learn about the state’s plan to build a prison near Charleston and are worried about the project luring away employees from local businesses already struggling to find workers.

Arkansas has purchased 815 acres of land to build a new prison intended to ease a backlog of inmates being held in county jails

Arkansas officials announced that the state has purchased land in the northwest part of the state to build a new prison.