NATCHEZ — With the Rentech land deal now closed and Corrections Corporation of America opening at the end of the year, the issue of housing new employees was discussed at Wednesday’s Natchez-Adams County Economic Development Authority meeting.

“If the Rentech thing goes forward and you have 800 people living here for three years it will put a big strain on the housing market,”

Woody Allen, chairman of the board, said.

The new prison is expected to hire around 300 employees, with 80 to 85 percent of them being local.

Rentech is expected to have 800 to 1,000 employees there during the construction phase.

While board members all agreed that new housing in the form of apartments and condominiums will be necessary, nothing has been done yet.

“They’re trying to get an idea of what king of housing will be needed for this workforce,” said Jeff Rowell, executive director of the board.

“It’s like throwing a house party,” James West said. “You wait until everybody get there and say ‘all right, now let’s go to the store.’”