Franklin and Isle of Wight County are taking care of workers when they lose their jobs and are helping to find them new ones, quickly.
Governor Tim Kaine's rapid response strike force will be up and running soon to help workers before they get their final pay checks. Hosey Burgess of the Virginia Employment Commission says the state will set up special centers near the plant to help cut through the red tape to get unemployment insurance and to find jobs these workers are qualified for.
"Maybe only a few will be affected because they would be able to migrate to another industry or job."
A new report from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership says the closing is expected to affect logging, trucking, and eight other industries that depend on the paper mill.
"People right now are still angry, I'm still angry, and we have a right to be angry."
Phillip Bradshaw is one of the lucky ones. He was laid off last year but found another job quickly. He is also on the Isle of Wight County board of supervisors. He says leaders will need to get to work, soon. The economic future will be in storage thanks to expansion at the Port of Virginia, but it will not happen overnight.
"I don't know they are coming. I don't know when they are. We know the Port of Virginia is going to develop and we know we are going to capitalize."
The task force might be able to soften the blow for these workers but once the mill shuts down for good it is going to hurt. However, Bradshaw says they might be able to turn that to their advantage. A large workforce ready to go to work could help lure in a new business.
"We do have a skill work force who can come to work immediately so hopefully it will attract businesses and make decisions immediately that will be beneficial."
Bradshaw and the rest of the county are bracing for massive unemployment and plunging home prices because in a few months, the company that made this a company town will be gone.
Governor Tim Kaine's rapid response strike force will be up and running soon to help workers before they get their final pay checks. Hosey Burgess of the Virginia Employment Commission says the state will set up special centers near the plant to help cut through the red tape to get unemployment insurance and to find jobs these workers are qualified for.
"Maybe only a few will be affected because they would be able to migrate to another industry or job."
A new report from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership says the closing is expected to affect logging, trucking, and eight other industries that depend on the paper mill.
"People right now are still angry, I'm still angry, and we have a right to be angry."
Phillip Bradshaw is one of the lucky ones. He was laid off last year but found another job quickly. He is also on the Isle of Wight County board of supervisors. He says leaders will need to get to work, soon. The economic future will be in storage thanks to expansion at the Port of Virginia, but it will not happen overnight.
"I don't know they are coming. I don't know when they are. We know the Port of Virginia is going to develop and we know we are going to capitalize."
The task force might be able to soften the blow for these workers but once the mill shuts down for good it is going to hurt. However, Bradshaw says they might be able to turn that to their advantage. A large workforce ready to go to work could help lure in a new business.
"We do have a skill work force who can come to work immediately so hopefully it will attract businesses and make decisions immediately that will be beneficial."
Bradshaw and the rest of the county are bracing for massive unemployment and plunging home prices because in a few months, the company that made this a company town will be gone.
