GUNNISON— A major prison expansion approved by Utah lawmakers is poised to increase Gunnison’s role as correctional hub, with potential ripple effects for jobs, infrastructure and the broader Sanpete County economy.

In the session concluded in mid-March, the Utah Legislature approved $130 million to expand the Central Utah Correctional Facility by as many as 768 beds, with up to $8 million of that amount earmarked for design work.

According to the Utah Department of Corrections, CUCF now houses up to 1,800 male inmates and employs about 500 people. State corrections officials say the majority of employees live within the Six-County region, and more than half live in Sanpete County.

That makes the planned expansion more than a state construction project. Any increase in prison capacity could mean more correctional staff, more support workers, more state investment on-site and more local dependence on the prison as an economic anchor.

The fact that money has been appropriated for both design and construction suggests construction could begin relatively soon. A project of such size can affect contractor demand, commuting patterns, and future housing pressure if workers are brought in. It also reinforces Gunnison’s position as a place where state government has a major physical and economic footprint.

Currently, the prison is divided into the Henry, Boulder and Monroe facilities. The Monroe complex has one housing building with a capacity for three additional units. That existing space for growth helps explain why the state is looking to Gunnison to solve prison crowding issues.

The current expansion plan fits into a much longer history of prison growth in Gunnison. The Central Utah Correctional Facility opened in 1989-90, then added 192 beds in 1998, pushing the inmate total to just over 800.

Another 288-bed expansion began in 2005, followed by another round of housing construction in 2015-16. If the newly funded expansion exceeds 700 beds, it will be the biggest increase to date.