February 16, 2009 Family faces uncertain future after job loss Play video

(Marnie MacLean, NECN: Livermore Falls, Maine) - It is being called the equal opportunity recession. Nearly three million Americans have lost their jobs. Every area of the economy has been hit. Even those workers who had seen tough times before, and thought they were safe, have learned they too are vulnerable.

It's been more than a century since this Central Maine mill began turning wood into paper. Getting a job here has always meant two things---good money, and security.

Cory Clapsaddle "If it was good enough for my father I felt it was good enough for me...my father raised his family on the money he made from the mill and I ought to be able to do the same"

When Cory Clapsaddle finally got his foot in the door of the Wausau paper mill ten years ago, he felt safe. Safe enough to get married, and have two sons.

He even bought his childhood home. Giving Cory the life he says he always wanted.

Last fall, Wausau Paper announced it was permanently shutting down one of its two paper machines in Jay--and eliminating 150 jobs, one of those jobs belonged to Cory Clapsaddle

Cory: "My heart sank to the pit of my stomach...what am I going to do now?"

Cory says he sank into depression---his severance package was just over ten thousand dollars. Unemployment, less than 350 dollars a week---and no job prospects.

Cory’s biggest fear: "losing my family's home...bottom line...no one wants to lose their family's home...something

To avoid that, the family has made a lot of changes.

Amanda Clapsaddle--Cory's Wife: "We don't go out to eat...we don't go shopping...the kids don’t play any sports. Everything costs money"

Cory is using mostly wood to heat the house

And they have written a hardship letter to the bank...hoping they can reduce their monthly mortgage payments. Paying the bills is a constant struggle.

Amanda: "Sometimes, a lot of the time. It's hard not to think about it when they come piling in and they're constantly calling wanting their money."

Cory at school: "We want long enough leads to lay that down flat"

As a displaced worker, Cory qualified for federal funds from the trade adjustment act. So, at 37--he has gone back to school. Each Morning he drives an hour and a half to the Northeast Technical Institute in Scarborough, Maine.

He's learning how to fix heating and air conditioning systems.

It’s all new--and a big challenge. But Cory isn't alone-- three other laid off mill workers are in his class. It’s a four and a half month course---he'll graduate with a national certification and he hopes, a new job.

Cory: "I don't know how many times growing up you hear it in conversations, everything happens for a reason...maybe this is my reason...to start a new career in a wide field"

Growing up, Cory says he always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps---now, he's been forced to find his own path.

Cory "Whatever I have to do to stay above water, that's what I'm going to do."