EAST GREENBUSH, NY -- "We're supposed to be giving thanks, but really, there are people out there who are struggling and we need to remember that and do something to help them," said Department of Labor Spokesperson Leo Rosales.

In a letter, National Gypsum notified the state its East Greenbush plant will permanently shut down mid January, leaving more than 70 workers jobless in the New Year.

Matt Grattan and his team at the One Stop Employment Center in Albany have already met with the company's management.

"We basically set up some times to meet with the affected workers next week to conduct orientations to ease some of their concerns and provide some information on how to file for unemployment benefits and reemployment services that we have to offer," said Grattan.

The Department of Labor says applications for those benefits have skyrocketed 40 percent just in the last year.

"We haven't seen this increase since 9/11," said Rosales.

The company makes wallboard and other construction materials. The catalyst for the closure? You guessed it, the slumping housing market.

"When that begins to take a hit, as we've seen nationwide, it trickles down to companies and trickles down to workers," said Rosales. "So really it has sort of a domino effect."

"We are certainly in a situation now where we're seeing a lot of manufacturing companies downsizing or closing," said Grattan. "We can't say that we're surprised but it's definitely unfortunate."

Grattan and his team cannot, unfortunately, guarantee other jobs will be there for the National Gypsum workers. But what they can offer is a strategy towards finding work.

"Resume preparation, interview techniques, could be on credit counseling techniques," said Grattan. "The quicker we can react, the quicker we can help the individuals, the quicker they can return to work."

And, in turn, find hope this holiday season.