Vermont Offers New Grant Opportunity For Loggers Working in the State
Cost-share program aids pro-active water quality protection and climate adaptation practices on timber harvest sites
MONTPELIER, VT – A new grant-funded cost-share program created by the Vermont General Assembly in 2024 to help logging contractors that work in Vermont implement proactive water quality protection and climate adaptation practices on their harvest sites is now accepting applications.
The Supporting Loggers to Comply with Acceptable Management Practices Program (SLoCAMP) is funded by the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation and administered by the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC). The program supports contractors in preparing harvest sites responsibly – with long-term forest health in mind. It began accepting applications on July 21.
Logging contractors wishing to apply for the funds may apply online at: www.plcloggers/slocamp
Funding is available through SLoCAMP for materials and labor tied to pre-harvest site preparation, including but not limited to:
• Hardening truck roads and landings
• Skid trail improvement
• Temporary stream crossings
• Permanent stream crossings
To qualify for the program:
• A project must be approved and completed by June 30, 2026. Requests for project extensions beyond the June 30, 2026 deadline will be considered on a case-by-case basis for projects in good standing at the time of request.
• The harvest site must be in Vermont, over 10 acres, and focused on long-term forest management.
• The applicant must be a logging contractor and own more than 50% of the equipment used on the project. Commercial timber harvesting must account for more than 50% of the applicant’s income.
• The applicant must be in good standing with the Agency of Natural Resources and the Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (Act 154) and Vermont’s AMP Enforcement and Compliance Program.
• The land must have been under the same ownership for at least 5 years, be currently enrolled in forestland Use Value Appraisal (UVA), or have a current conservation easement in place on the harvest area.
• The applicant must have a contract with the landowner before operations begin. (Note: This does not apply if the applicant is harvesting on their own land.)
State lands owned in fee simple are not eligible as AMPs are built into stumpage rates. State-owned Wildlife Management Areas where others own timber rights are eligible.
The PLC has created tools to guide loggers through the SLoCAMP grant program and help them determine if it’s a good fit for their operation. To learn more and to apply, go to http://www.plcloggers.org/slocamp.
Anyone with questions about the program is also encouraged to reach out to Jeff Benjamin, Deputy Executive Director of Certification at the PLC. He may be reached at jeff@plcloggers.org or by calling (207) 688-8195 Opt. 2.
