An economic development official in Lincoln says closure of the Logan Correctional Center would be destructive to local businesses.

Earlier this month, Gov. Pat Quinn included the prison on a list of facilities targeted for closure. The prison is among the area's biggest employers with 357 workers.

Michael Maniscalco, executive director of the Lincoln & Logan County Development Partnership says a closure would devastate businesses in the area.

Figures released Thursday show Logan County's jobless rate is 8.3%. The county's population has declined during the past decade by 800 people, to just over 30,300.

Bob Kidd of the Logan County Board of Realtors says he knows of 1 Logan prison employee who decided not to buy a home because of the job uncertainty.