Torrington Prison Construction On Again for Summer

By Renny MacKay

Torrington, WY – After a year long delay, construction of the new medium security prison in Torrington is underway and will start in earnest this summer. City officials are already excited by the prospect of new jobs. The director of the Goshen County Economic Development Corporation, Brad Sutherland, says that's because the county is one of the poorest in the state. He says that makes the prison a good fit for them and the Corrections Department. Sutherland says he hopes the prison will diversify the local economy and bring up all wages. But a study out of Iowa State University shows that may be difficult as small towns with prisons actually saw less growth than towns without prisons.