New Cost-Share Program Now Available to Support Vermont Logging Contractors Seeking Master Logger Certification®
75% cost-share will support responsible, verified harvest practices
Vermont logging contractors who have not previously participated in the Master Logger Certification Program®(MLCP) have access to a significant new cost-share opportunity designed to reduce financial barriers to certification.
Under the newly established cost-reduction program, eligible Vermont logging contractors can receive a 75 percent cost share on the initial certification fee. This work is supported by Growing Vermont’s Forest Resilience: A Collaborative Strategy, Award no. 24-CA-11132544-104 from the USDA Forest Service.
The initiative is intended to support forest resilience, water quality protection, workforce professionalism, and long-term sustainability across Vermont’s working forest landscape by ensuring harvesting operations are conducted by highly skilled contractors held accountable to an independent certification standard.
The new cost-share opportunity will be coordinated through a partnership between the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC), which administers the Master Logger Certification Program®, and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR), which will issue reimbursements to cover the costs of qualified applicants after certification is achieved.
“The Master Logger standard aligns well with the goal of increasing forest resilience in Vermont. The cost share available for Master Logger Certification through this program will have a significant and positive impact for logging contractors in Vermont,” Jeff Benjamin, PLC Deputy Executive Director of Certification, said.
Contractors applying for certification will pay 25% of the cost upfront, and the remaining cost will be reimbursed to the certifying organization after they achieve certification. This reimbursement-based model ensures accountability for public funds by directly linking financial support to successful certification outcomes.
The Master Logger Certification Program® was created in 2000 by the PLC. It was the first point-of-harvest, independent certification system in the world and remains an internationally recognized standard for logging professionalism.
Certification verifies that logging contractors meet high performance standards in safety, environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and professional conduct. The MLCP standards are cross-referenced with major green certification systems and are designed to ensure that harvesting operations protect soil productivity, water quality, and forest health while supporting efficient, safe, and ethical business practices.
The cost-share opportunity is limited to first-time participants in the Master Logger Certification Program®. To qualify, applicants must:
- Be a logging contractor who resides in Vermont and conducts active logging operations in the state
- Meet all standard MLCP eligibility requirements, including compliance with state and federal laws
- Be in good standing with Vermont’s Acceptable Management Practices and Act 154 requirements
- Have no unresolved or outstanding Vermont enforcement actions
- Participate fully in all required interviews, audits, and documentation reviews
By focusing on first-time applicants, the program aims to significantly increase the number of certified contractors operating in Vermont, strengthening the overall logging workforce and improving consistency in forest practices statewide.
Beyond environmental benefits, the program also strengthens the logging workforce by helping contractors differentiate themselves in a competitive marketplace. Other benefits of being Master Logger Certified in Vermont include lower workers’ compensation rates and access to low interest loans for equipment purchases through the Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA). Master Logger Certification is increasingly recognized by landowners, foresters, mills, and certification systems as a mark of professionalism and accountability.
Founded in Maine in 1995 by a handful of loggers who were concerned about the future of the forest economy, the PLC has grown steadily to become a regional non-profit which provides independent logging and trucking contractors a voice along with a suite of other forest certification programs which are grounded in responsible forest management.
Learn more about the PLC at www.plcloggers.org
