If a federal detention center is built in Pahrump, workers who get jobs there would be working for a good company, according to a recent magazine ranking.

Corrections Corporation of America, the company that would run the detention center for 1,000 to 1,500 detainees on East Mesquite Avenue, was named 66th on a list of the nation's 100 best corporate citizens by Corporate Responsibility Officer magazine.

The office of the federal detention trustee selected the Mesquite Avenue site as the preferred location for the detention center over two other sites in the final environmental impact statement. A 30-day comment period on the final EIS expires April 28.

CCA is the nation's largest owner and operator of private correctional facilities, running 65 facilities with 78,000 beds in 19 states.

A prepared news release states the magazine's list of the 100 best corporate citizens was based on data collected from the Russell 1000 Index and IW Financial, a leading environmental, social and governance research company.

The Walt Disney Co., Gap, IBM, Target Corporation, Cisco Systems and Starbucks Corp. also made the list.

Companies were compared based on corporate responsibility in climate change, employee relations, the environment, finances, governance, human rights, lobbying and philanthropy.

"CCA has always been an active member of the communities we serve. This award acknowledges the strides we've made in that effort over our company's 25-year history and we are proud to be recognized by CRO," said John Ferguson, CCA president and chief executive officer in a prepared statement.

"We will continue to make positive contributions to our communities and leave an even greater legacy as a corporate citizen as we continue to grow," he said.

Brad Wiggins, CCA senior director of site acquisition, said it's good news the federal detention trustee selected the East Mesquite Avenue site. But he noted it isn't official yet whether the detention center will be built in Pahrump.

Wiggins said he plans to make some public presentations on the project in Pahrump -- the office of the federal detention trustee doesn't plan to hold another public hearing after the release of the final EIS.

The record of decision will be issued after the 30-day comment period expires April 28.

"The Mesquite Avenue site probably stands out a little better than the other sites with the environmental aspects, but until the trustees office gets the final comments from state and federal agencies, you never know. We've been real cautious about trying to be too presumptuous," Wiggins said.

One local official came out against the project.

Nye County Commissioner Joni Eastley said she supports a federal detention center for a site near the Front Sight Firearms Training Academy, an isolated, 80-acre site at 8251 E. Panaca Ave., in the far southern end of the county near the Tecopa turnoff. That site was removed from consideration after an attorney representing the Wiley Trust said family members were unaware their property had even been proposed for the detention center.

"I'm not going to support it if it's anywhere within the town of Pahrump," Eastley said.

During the first of two public hearings in Pahrump last June, Wiggins said his company hires detention officers at $18.12 per hour. The federal detention trustee, Scott Stermer, said contractors will be required to pay at least $17.45 per hour.

"The company works very, very hard to take the staff that we hire and have them go from a job over to a career. That's what's so exciting about working for CCA," Wiggins said. "They really do put a great deal of emphasis on staff training and continuing education."

CCA is moving forward on an annexation agreement with Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada to extend water and sewer service to the detention center, but if that doesn't come to fruition, the company has a backup plan to build water and sewer facilities on site, he said.

Wiggins said many Pahrump residents could qualify for the 200 to 250 permanent jobs at the federal detention center, despite a statement from the authors of the EIS predicting a small number of initial hires from Pahrump due to the rigorous employment requirements. CCA will be working with Nevada JobConnect on hiring employees.

"We'll come in well in advance of activation of the facility, if we're lucky enough to get the award. We'll have job fairs, we'll coordinate with the locals, we'll show folks how to fill out the applications and assist in getting them qualified for these positions. Our first choice is to work with the local community," Wiggins said.