PONTIAC - A commission's 9-0 vote in favor of keeping open Pontiac Correctional Center seemed to draw a similarly unanimous round of applause from residents of Pontiac.

"I think it's fantastic … the prison is one of the mainstays of Pontiac," resident Keith Haab said upon hearing the news. "It (closure) would really hurt the economy, and small businesses would definitely be affected."

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability voted Tuesday to oppose Gov. Rod Blagojevich's proposal to close the prison and shift most inmates to the largely unused prison at Thomson. The decision by the panel of lawmakers is advisory only; Blagojevich still has the final say.

"I think it's a great thing for Pontiac and hopefully this will put the local residents at ease," said Lori Fairfield, executive director of Pontiac Redeveloping Our United Downtown. "I think there will be a little sigh of relief, but the big sigh of relief won't come until the governor says that the prison won't be closing. It's in the governor's hands now."

State Sen. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, attended the commission vote in Chicago.

"I believe the most important thing to come from the vote is that it was unanimous and objective," he said. "This is a bipartisan commission consisting of people from all over Illinois, and they made compelling arguments that Pontiac is a perfectly good facility and helps in regard to overcrowding."

The governor's decision in May to close the prison has prompted active campaigns from people who fear the move would take away 600 prison jobs and devastate the Livingston County economy.

Cheri Lambert, Pontiac Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, praised the people who turned out for the commission's hearing August in Pontiac.

"We would like to thank the thousands of people who came to the public hearing as it definitely helped in making that decision today," she said. "We already have a struggling economy, and I can't emphasize enough the devastation that this would have (caused).

"It's already had an effect as peoples lives are on hold in this waiting period."

While state officials say the move would save the state money, Mike Rodino, owner of Wall Works, said closing one prison to open another seems like financial mismanagement.

"This is just one of the symptoms of government not using tax money the way it is supposed to be used," he said.