CHARLESTON -- A bipartisan group of officials led by Gov. Mel Carnahan was on hand Friday for a ceremony to mark the start of construction of the Southeast Correctional Center.

Some 200 local and state officials and area residents attended the groundbreaking ceremony held at the future site of the prison just inside the Charleston city limits near Interstate 57. Site work began in November at the site, and the prison is expected to begin housing prisoners by August 2001.

Carnahan called the prison the state's "newest partnership" in its fight against crime. That partnership was made possible by a strong proposal, bipartisan political support, and an economic need evidenced by the community's dwindling population and high unemployment, he said.

The fact that Charleston is home to former Gov. Warren Hearnes and his wife, Betty, also "didn't hurt," he said.

"The new Southeast Correctional Center will give us some of this welcome space we need so we can continue our efforts to secure the safety of our communities," said Carnahan. "With this groundbreaking, we hope to ensure the economic prosperity of the Charleston community for years to come."

Carnahan and others applauded the work of Betty Hearnes, a former state legislator and president of the Mississippi County Industrial Development Association. Hearnes, who served on the Joint Committee on Corrections during her days as a legislator, led the effort to win a bid to bring the prison to Charleston in 1997.

"I feel great," said Hearnes. "I don't know if you're happy, but I sure am to be here today."

Dora Schriro, director of the Department of Corrections, said Mississippi County officials presented one of the best proposals she had ever seen in their bid for the prison. The site was in a good location and had prime access to the infrastructure, work force, medical communities and roadways necessary when building a prison.

"I've just never seen a better configuration for a correctional facility," she said.

Schriro added that the delays surrounding the start of construction were not indicators of problems in the community or with the proposal. "We saved the best for last," she said.

Charleston was one of two communities that successfully bid for one of two state prisons in 1997. Licking, a town of about 1,400 in south-central Missouri, also was selected. Work at the Licking site is nearing completion.

Development of the Licking and Charleston prison sites fell behind early in the planning phases. But the Charleston site, originally scheduled for completion next month, was delayed even further in 1998 when bids came in $12 million over the $73 million anticipated budget.

The prison design was scaled back and the state rebid the project with a new estimate of $65.3 million project. Bids again came in over budget, but a bid finally was awarded to River City Construction of Peoria, Ill., for $70,933,000 million.

Dignitaries said the opportunities for Charleston and surrounding communities will be endless after the prison is occupied. The 1,596 bed, maximum-security prison for men will utilize about 40 acres of the 120-acre site. The facility will cost $72 million to build, create some 445 jobs and have an estimated annual payroll of $9.3 million.

Besides obvious employment and economic opportunities, the prison's present also may result in population growth that includes the return of young residents who left because they couldn't find jobs, said former Gov. Warren Hearnes.

"If they want to come back they'll have the chance. They won't have the objections they had when they left," said Hearnes.