Monday, July 21, 2025–7:53 a.m.
-John Bailey, Floyd County Government-
Floyd County Prison Warden Mike Long addressed local business leaders at the Rome Floyd Chamber this week, highlighting the unique advantages and lasting community impact of a county-run correctional facility.
Unlike state-run facilities, Floyd County Prison operates with a high degree of flexibility, allowing it to evolve into a role that fosters skills development and community reinvestment.
Since voters approved a SPLOST-funded work release program in 2006, the Floyd County Prison has expanded opportunities for inmates to gain real-world experience through several programs. Inmates participating in work release logged nearly 9,000 hours of community service last year and earned money for their future, and to pay any required compensation, through employment in regular jobs — contributing both economically and socially.
Each year inmate crews at the prison add over a well over a million dollars in value each year in value to Floyd County, through programs like:
- Saving taxpayers over $100,000 by providing skilled construction services during the most recent Floyd County Jail renovations.
- Maintaining of three former Ga. Department of Natural Resources boat ramps
- Constructing community pavilions and expanding Ag programs, like bee keeping.
- Clearing land at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport, where the prison now operates a state grant-funded sawmill.
- Supporting emergency and disaster cleanup efforts locally as well as out-of-state efforts in Louisiana and Kentucky.
- Litter control operations on Fridays and Saturdays, resulting in 43,000 pounds of waste being removed and hundreds of discarded tires collected in the Fouche Gap area.
Warden Long told Floyd County business leaders that all of this has been accomplished by shifting the focus of the prison’s mission to career skill development. The prison now offers skill-based rehabilitation programs in carpentry, welding, construction, heavy equipment operation, CDL driver training, and Technology training, including Microsoft Office certification.
Instead of releasing an incarcerated person with a bus ticket and a check, he said these programs provide inmates with practical tools for successful reentry into the workforce, helping to break cycles of recidivism.
Floyd County Prison Warden Mike Long speaks to business leaders at a Rome Floyd Chamber lunch and learn about prison operations and work release opportunities for local businesses.
Floyd County Prison Beekeeping – A Floyd County Prison inmate learns agriculture skills, including beekeeping, as part of one of several opportunities for those housed at the Floyd County Prison.
Floyd County Prison CDL Graduation – A number of men were recognized in a ceremony at the Floyd County Prison for earning their GED and CDL licenses in partnership with Georgia Northwestern Technical College earlier this year.
Floyd County Prison Sawyard – Inmates at the Floyd County Prison collect the wood from downed trees and use that lumber for various construction projects that benefit the community.
