BALDWIN, MI -- In less than a month, the GEO Group Prison in Lake County will open, bringing hundreds of new jobs and millions in economic impact dollars

"It made a lot of homes vacant, it took business from our stores in town, and it made us a ghost town," explained Rosalie Ward, who remembers when the Baldwin prison shut down.

Ward has lived in Baldwin her entire life and works at a clothing store downtown.  She says it was a sad day when the Baldwin prison shut down back in 2005, but now, she says the mood of the town is of "tentative excitement," as the prison prepares to re-open.

"We managed with the locals, but yeah, it's much more positive when you got something in Baldwin," said downtown employee Scott Nichols.

The GEO Group announced late last year they've reached an agreement with the State of California and starting next month, more than 2,500 prisoners will fill the North Lakes Correctional Facility.  The prison is being re-modeled and the whole project means 500 new jobs in construction and staffing

"A lot of rentals, that's what we get a lot of calls about, is rentals," said realtor John R. Weeks.

It's not just good news for local business.  It'll also give an always needed boost to Lake County's bottom line.

Last year, the county collected $850,000 of taxes from the closed-down prison.  In fiscal year 2011, with the prison up and running, they expect to collect $2.1 million.

$1.3 million of the taxes the prison pays will go to Lake County Schools.  The companies say in this economy, every extra dollar helps.

The GEO group has invested $60 million into the North Lake Correctional Facility.

Nobody from the prison would go on camera, but says everything is on schedule for the May opening.

The prison is still taking applications for various jobs.  If you’re interested, CLICK HERE.