State to reopen Gulf CI annex
As many as 140 jobs will soon be coming to Gulf County, as the state has announced plans to reopen the Gulf Correctional Institution Annex by the end of this year.
“During the initial reopening phase, this will bring approximately 100 new jobs, with more to come as additional housing units open,” read a statement from the Florida Department of Corrections. “Thanks to Governor DeSantis’ bold leadership and prioritization of public safety personnel, correctional officer vacancies… continue to fill. Many institutions, such as Gulf CI are offering hiring incentives such as a $5,000 hiring bonus.
“With the increased staffing across the state, FDC is beginning to reopen previously closed housing dormitories,” it read.
The annex was closed after the October 2018 Hurricane Michael, when the department moved prisoners elsewhere, and did not reopen the facility.
“They’s spent some money since then to bring it back,” said Jim McKnight, director
Of the Gulf County Economic Development Coalition.He said there’s been talk about opening the work camp in Howards Creek, although the FDC did not confirm whether or not that would eventually happen.
Meet the Editor
David Adlerstein, The Apalachicola Times’ digital editor, started with the news outlet in January 2002 as a reporter.
Prior to then, David Adlerstein began as a newspaperman with a small Boston weekly, after graduating magna cum laude from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. He later edited the weekly Bellville Times, and as business reporter for the daily Marion Star, both not far from his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
In 1995, he moved to South Florida, and worked as a business reporter and editor of Medical Business newspaper. In Jan. 2002, he began with the Apalachicola Times, first as reporter and later as editor, and in Oct. 2020, also began editing the Port St. Joe Star.