Member Weekly Update - Dec. 6, 2024

Welcome to this week’s update from the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast! We have important news and events to share that are vital for your business and the logging community. Let’s dive into what’s happening this week:

GENERAL NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Renew your PLC Membership on paper or online TODAY!
✔ PLC Christmas Ornaments – Get Them Now!
✔ PLC Launches New Website
✔ Logger’s Voice Fall Edition

MAINE NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Applications for Second Round of Storm Relief Funding for Small Businesses Now Open
✔ Maine News Clips

VERMONT NEWS & EVENTS

✔ Vermont Agriculture and Forestry Financing Survey
✔ Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report
✔ Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
✔ Vermont News Clips

SAFETY & EDUCATION

✔ Member Alert – Acadia Dividend Announcement
✔ Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! December Classes
✔ Small First Aid Pack
✔ Crew First Aid Pack
✔ Northeast Safe Logger

MEMBER BENEFITS

✔ Cost Calculators
✔ PLC Store
✔ Member Discounts

This is a friendly reminder that your annual membership renewal is now past due if you have not already renewed. We value your membership and would love to continue having you as an important member of the PLC. If you are experiencing any challenges with the renewal payment, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are happy to discuss flexible payment plan options to assist you.

Please note, for members with Acadia, it is especially important to complete your renewal by the deadline to avoid any disruption in dividend program eligibility starting on Jan. 1.

You can renew on paper or online, click the buttons below for your preferred option.

If you have any questions, please contact us at (207)688-8195.

Reminder (Maine based contractors only): if at least 50% of your employees attended PLC Spring safety training sessions in 2024, your renewal dues are waived. Must be a Logger or Fleet Training (CPR does not qualify). If dues are waived, we do need the renewal form returned.

Renew Online Here Download Paper Renewal Form Here

PLC Christmas Ornaments – Get them now and support Log A Load for Kids!

We’re excited to showcase our 2024 Custom Wooden Ornaments made by one of our very own PLC Members: Derrick Hardy of Herbert L. Hardy & Son, Inc!

100% of the proceeds from each ornament will benefit the Log a Load For Kids Foundation—a program dedicated to raising funds for children’s health through treatment, education, and research at Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals and local children’s hospitals.

Purchase Ornaments Here

PLC Launches New Website

Have you checked out our recently redesigned website?
www.plcloggers.org

Our revamped platform is all about YOU, featuring:

✔️User-Friendly Navigation: Easily access important information and resources.
✔️Simplified Member Portal: Streamlined registration and renewal processes.
✔️Enhanced Resources: Discover better tools and information to support your needs.

Just added! Our new Events Page and calendar CLICK HERE to check it out!

We invite you to explore the new site and see all it has to offer. Your feedback means the world to us, so let us know what you think!

Check out the new site

The Logger’s Voice

Read The Logger’s Voice

Maine News

Applications for Second Round of Storm Relief Funding for Small Businesses Now Open

Governor Janet Mills announced on Dec. 3 that a second round of applications is now open for Maine small businesses to help them rebuild and recover from last winter’s devastating storms.

The Department of Economic and Community Development has opened applications for approximately $2 million in remaining funding for Maine small businesses and nonprofit organizations through its Business Recovery and Resilience Fund to make storm-related repairs and strengthen infrastructure to better withstand future storms.

The Business Recovery and Resilience Fund provides grants for businesses and organizations, including nonprofit organizations, that have been affected by last winter’s severe storms. Business and non-profit applicants may initially request up to $100,000 toward design, permitting and construction costs for their project. Projects receiving grants may include a recovery component for damage sustained and must include efforts to increase business resilience to future storms and other climate conditions. Funds awarded through the program may can pay for up to 50 percent of total project costs, with applicants providing matching funds equal to the total amount requested. Applications must show that the funding will support efforts to make properties resilient to future weather events.

The application and a Frequently Asked Questions document with additional information are available here. Applications are due by no later than 11:59 pm on January 14th, 2025.

Maine News Clips

📌 Logging Mechanization and Impacts on Health – CDC Blogs
📌 Conservation group buys 44,000 acres in northwest Maine for $44.4M | Mainebiz.biz
📌Maine’s Christmas tree industry adds millions to the state’s economy | newscentermaine.co m

Vermont News

Vermont Agriculture and Forestry Financing Survey

PLC Vermont Members,

The Vermont Economic Development Authority (VEDA) is seeking input on the existing financing landscape for agricultural and forestry businesses. VEDA will use survey results to inform the possible development of future financing tools or loan programs for agricultural and forestry-related businesses. A survey to collect input can be found by clicking the button below. The PLC encourages you to fill out the survey. The deadline for completion is noon on Wednesday, December 11th.

Anyone with questions on the survey can reach out to Andy Wood, Co-Director of Agricultural Lending at VEDA at 802.498.8865.

Click Here for Survey

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report Nov. 24

Click below to read the latest weekly Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report from the Vermont Motor Vehicle Police.

Read the Report

Working Lands Enterprise Initiative

Members,

The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative is now accepting applications for the Business Enhancement Grant.

This grant is open to Vermont working lands businesses and organizations, which include farms producing food and fiber, as well as forest products businesses. Some food businesses and organizations, as well as agricultural or wood processing and/or distribution businesses may be eligible if they meet certain requirements for local sourcing of raw ingredients or products.

Applicants can apply for grants of $10,000 to $50,000. This year, there is no match requirement.

The application portal is open through December 12th. Applicants will be notified of award decisions in late February 2024, and projects can begin in April 2025.

Learn More and Apply

Vermont News Clips

📌 Opinion: Let’s keep our forests as forests – Concord Monitor
📌 Vermont endures record fall wildfire seas on – WCAX

Safety & Educational Resources

Acadia Insurance has announced it will pay $419,241 in premium dividends to eligible policyholder members of the Professional Logging Contractors of the Northeast (PLC) Safety Group. Since 1999, Acadia has distributed over $14.5 million in premium dividends to eligible participants of this safety group.

This is a monumental total and reflects nine straight years when the loss ratio of our group has been low enough to provide a dividend. This is due to the PLC’s membership, our focus on safety, and our efforts toward risk mitigation. A total team effort and a job well done.

If members have questions on their dividend status, they should contact their insurance agent directly or contact the PLC.

You may read the full Acadia announcement by clicking the link below.

Read the Announcement

Maine DOL – SafetyWorks! December Classes

Upcoming classes:

Developing & Conducting Assessments, Audits, and Inspections –
December 11, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Identifying and analyzing hazards are key elements to an effective safety and health system. This training explores the methods to assess the workplace for hazards and implement controls to effectively control them. This half-day course looks at PPE assessment, behavioral and program audits, as well as equipment-specific and facility inspections.

Establishing or Improving Your Safety & Health Committee –
December 17, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Whether starting a new safety and health committee or improving your existing one, this course will provide employers with the key elements to a successful team, safety committee design recommendations, facilitation basics, and common practices of effective safety and health committees.

Combustible Dust Safety –
December 18, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
It is now well known that OSHA is enforcing current recognized and generally accepted engineering practices for combustible dust prevention. This half-day course provides an overview of the hazards associated with combustible dust generation in the workplace and avenues to abate those hazards.

10-Hr. Construction Standards –
December 19 & 20, 2024 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.(Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.(Day 2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This one-and-a-half-day course offers basic information on a variety of construction industry safety/health standards (29 CFR 1926). Attendees who complete the course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

2025 SafetyWorks! Training Institute course listing and registration is now open at www.safetyworksmaine.gov/register

Register and browse more SafetyWorks! classes: https://www.safetyworksmaine.gov/training/scheduled_classes/register.shtml

If you have questions about safety or upcoming classes, reach out to SafetyWorks! at 1-877-SAFE-345 or general.bls-safetyworks@maine.gov.

If you have questions about Wage and Hour compliance, please reach out to the Wage and Hour Division at 207-623-7900 or bls.mdol@maine.gov, or visit www.maine.gov/labor/bls/.

New Small PLC Operator/Driver First Aid Pack!

In response to demand for a smaller/”must have in an emergency” first aid pack to be stored in a machine or pickup, the PLC has created a new Operator/Driver First Aid Pack.

Contains “must have in an emergency” bleeding control items
One pack is recommended per machine/truck
Detachable velcro panel ideal for mounting in a machine or truck
Meets OSHA requirements for a logging first aid kit
Supplements PLC’s larger first aid back pack but is not a replacement

More information on the pack and its contents is available HERE.

Purchase

PLC Crew First Aid Backpack

PLC First Aid Pack: In response to widespread interest from members, we have created a PLC First Aid Pack that has everything you need for emergencies in the woods.

This Military Elite Tactical Trauma First Aid Backpack was designed for the PLC by Paul Stewart – EMT Houlton, ME.

Purchase

Now FREE to Maine Loggers! A $300 value!

Member Benefits

PLC Members Only! Equipment Cost Calculators Available

Members,

With expenses rising rapidly in the industry we know you are struggling to get a handle on your costs. This is a great time to utilize the cost calculators created in 2021 for PLC Members.

These new, easy to use, logging equipment and log trucking cost calculators are available on the PLC Members Only section of our web site You may access this private section of the web site with your member login or set up a login HERE.

These calculators allow you to quickly estimate the hourly cost of operation for any piece of your equipment.

DISCLAIMER: These calculators are being made available for your business use as a member benefit. They produce equipment estimates and are not official products of the PLC nor should they be used for negotiation purposes.