CHEYENNE - Torrington appears destined to be the next Wyoming city to experience the impact of growth, as a slew of new prison employees moves into the Goshen County community.

Unlike many other cities in Wyoming, Torrington never has experienced a boom.

But as with other boom towns, Torrington's impending prosperity is coupled with a problem - lack of housing.

"We're short on rentals. Housing is tight," said Cheryl Yeik, who is in the real estate business and chairs the Downtown Neighbors Committee that welcomes the new prison employees and their families to Torrington.

She said she talked to three prison recruits early last week, and they are finding housing - although it may not be quite what they would like.

The real test will come later in December and January, she said, when more recruits finish their training and will need private housing in Torrington or nearby communities.

According to 2008 estimates, Torrington has a population of 6,778.

The Wyoming Department of Corrections is hiring more than 350 employees to run the 720-bed Wyoming Medium Corrections Institution when it opens in January.

During their training as corrections officers and other positions, the new hires receive free room and board and $2,474 per month base pay, said Melinda Brazzale, public information officer for the Department of Corrections.

The salaries will change after the Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission determines classifications of the new graduates.

The department is training the recruits in batches of 35 to 40 per class at Camp Guernsey. The classes last nine weeks for security personnel.

The first class began Sept. 14. The last class will graduate March 10.

More rentals should become available in the next couple

of months when construction

of the Wyoming Medium Correctional Institute is finished and

the workers leave town, Brazzale said.

Also, the recruits may have to look beyond Torrington for places to live.

Some people work in Torrington and commute to Scottsbluff, Neb., Guernsey or Lingle now.

'A huge undertaking'

Rick Patterson, who teaches criminal justice at Eastern Wyoming College at Torrington, is conducting an observational study on the opening of the prison.

Patterson said the aim of his project is to find out "what it takes to open a prison."

"It's a huge undertaking," he said. "In Wyoming, it's a big deal."

The 700-odd new beds will increase by one-third the number of prison beds in the state.

A Torrington native who moved back to his hometown five years ago, Patterson said he's been impressed with how the community is welcoming the recruits and their families.

"Torrington is going all out to do that," he said.

"This has been something new for Torrington."

The prison, he said, will be the largest employer in the city, but you don't hear anything negative."

Yeik, meanwhile, said the Department of Corrections signs up the recruits who are willing to be contacted by the welcoming committee members.

The committee has periodic gatherings to meet with the recruits and their families and try to find ways to help them.

The committee also pairs Torrington residents with the newcomers.

"Once we get that initial contact, it's easier to call and say, 'Hey, how are things going?' " Yeik said.

Contact Joan Barron at joan.barron@trib.com or 307-632-1244.