As the recession in Vermont continues to wear on, social service providers are seeing a new trend: middle income families who are turning to state services for the first time.

Vermont lost 52 dairy farms last year. Farmers were struggling with low milk prices long before this economic downturn. But they're also affected by the economy around them. VPR's Mitch Wertlieb speaks iwth Onan Whitcomb of the North Williston Cattle Company.

18 months into a recession that's affected almost everyone, some small businesses are poised to grow - while others will have to reinvent themselves to survive.

Vermont has a troubling rate of underemployed workers - people who are in temporary, part-time jobs, often without benefits. And in this economy, even an advanced college degree may sometimes not be enough.

When people are out of work, one place they seek assistance is their community action group.

Although about 20 percent fewer people work in the state's factories than did just five years ago, some companies have announced expansion plans that would create dozens of new jobs. But it could be months or more before anyone is hired.

In Vermont's cash-strapped Northeast Kingdom, many workers often hold down two or three jobs. Last year many were laid-off. Now, people in the Kingdom are starting to find work again, but many are making less money, doing jobs for which they are overqualified.

Many people looking to build a home will first visit a bank, and for many it's their local bank. But is there money out there for prospective homeowners to build or even buy a house?

All this week, we'll hear how people have been faring lately. We begin with a look at the building industry - an area that's been one of the hardest hit by the downturn. Many carpenters, contractors and lumberyards continue to struggle, and their future is filled with uncertainty.