Member Weekly Update – Jan. 10, 2025

The Logger’s Voice Winter 2025

PLC 2025 Annual Meeting May 8-9 – Save the Date and Reserve Rooms Now!

It is time to block off your calendar for the PLC’s 30th Annual Membership Meeting, being held May 8-9 at the Samoset Resort in beautiful Rockport Maine! This is a free event for all PLC Members so don’t miss out!

The room reservation link for PLC Members is now open and you may reserve rooms by clicking the button below. Why wait? Book your room for the PLC’s biggest event of the year now!

Reserve Rooms Here

Our 30th Anniversary Annual Membership Meeting planning is underway, and we want YOU to help us make it unforgettable!

As part of this anniversary celebration, we’re planning exciting sessions and discussions, and we’d love your input on the topics that matter most to you. Please click the button below and take a few moments to complete a PLC survey on possible topics. We can’t wait to see you all in May!

*Free Avenza Maps Pro subscriptions still available! Read more below!

Due to popular demand from the 2024 Master Logger Best Practices workshops, the Master Logger Certification Program® is working with Avenza Systems to hold a comprehensive Avenza Maps training tailored specifically for loggers!

When: January 31st, 2025
Where: In-person or virtual. Attend in-person at the KVCC Alfond Campus in Hinckley, ME, or virtually. The in-person session will be followed by a field exercise that will put into practice what was learned in the classroom.
Time: 7:30 am – 2:30 pm
Cost: Free, lunch is provided
Details: This workshop is for logging operators, foremen, and others who implement aspects of harvest planning and implementation.

What to bring: work boots, hi-vis vests, hard hats (required), and a device with Avenza Maps downloaded (please come with a full battery and notification turned on for Avenza Maps)

MLC Credits: 6 hours
SAF Credits: pending

This workshop will feature: Avenza Maps basics; navigation; data creation, editing, and sharing; and other tools
Map sourcing. A field exercise to apply concepts learned. All attendees will receive a temporary Avenza Maps Pro subscription to use during the class or may sign up for a free two-year subscription through their Master Logger Certification prior to the workshop.

If you would like to take part in this interactive workshop, please register by January 17th, 2025 by clicking the button below. Please submit a form for every attendee.

Questions? Contact: Sydney Andersen at sydney@tcnef.org, or 207-688-8195 opt. 2

PLEASE REGISTER THROUGH THE LINK BELOW BY JANUARY 17!

*Please also remember we are giving out free Avenza Maps Prosubscriptions, so if you already have a subscription, this is a great opportunity to learn how to use it, but if you do not have one yet, you may grab your free subscription by clicking below!

New Guaranteed Loan Program will Support Wood Processing Facilities

USDA has announced a new initiative to support wood processing facilities through the new Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP). Through TPEP, USDA Rural Development and the Forest Service will make $220 million available in loan guarantees for borrowers to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve wood processing facilities, sawmills and paper mills. Eligible projects must initially use ecosystem restoration byproducts from federal or Tribal lands considered high- or very-high priority for ecological restoration involving vegetation removal. 

USDA Rural Development is launching the program as a strategy to improve forest health, thus, eligible projects must initially source materials from priority landscapes. Some highlights of the program: 

• Maximum loan amount is $25 million, with no minimum 

• 90% guarantee 

• No guarantee fees or loan servicing fees 

Interested lenders who would like to apply to the program should contact Jay Fortier, Rural Development Business and Cooperative Specialist (207-289-2814 or jay.fortier@usda.gov). 

You may view the full USDA announcement on the program below 

Storm Income Loss Survey – Your Input is Needed!

Maine Members,

Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF) is reaching out to the agriculture and forestry sector with an important opportunity to help them advocate for disaster aid that could help to offset expenses due to weather-related challenges.

In late December 2024, Congress allocated $220 million in disaster relief funds for New England states, in addition to Alaska, and Hawaii, to offset some of the losses experienced by agriculture and timber producers due to extreme weather events in 2023 and 2024. The USDA will determine how these funds are distributed, and Maine’s share will depend on estimated losses.

We need your help and input to make the strongest case possible for Maine to receive the maximum funding available.

What They’re asking:

DACF is requesting that businesses that have experienced extreme weather/natural disaster related losses, including lost income, complete a brief survey. The survey is anonymous—no contact information is required—and should only take a few minutes.

Completing this survey does not guarantee that you will receive funding, nor can they guarantee that all topics this survey covers will ultimately be deemed eligible for funds by the USDA. However, your response is vital to ensuring that Maine can maximize its share of disaster aid.

Survey Deadline: Midnight, Monday, January 20

Click here to complete the survey or use the button below: https://www.maine.gov/dacf/about/disaster/survey.shtml

Thank you for taking the time to contribute to this important effort.

Employers – Action required for new PFML program!

Starting with the first payroll with a pay date in January, any employer with at least 1 Maine-based employee has obligations under Maine’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) law. Employers should take immediate actions to prepare by following the steps on this one-pager: WhatEmployersNeedtoKnowJanuary2025.pdf

The new Paid Family and Medical Leave Portal, the online system for employers to register their business information, designate a payroll processor, file quarterly wage reports, and remit quarterly premium contributions, will be launching on January 6.

Starting January 1st, 2025, any employer with at least one Maine-based employee must begin payroll withholdings for their employees. Employers with 15 or more employees will contribute 1 percent of wages and may deduct up to half of the contribution from the employees’ wages. Employers with less than 15 employees will contribute 0.5 percent of wages and may deduct the entire amount from the employees’ wages.

All employers must register on the portal to begin wage reporting in April 2025. The portal will also allow self-employed individuals and tribal governments to elect coverage.

Employers will begin their first quarterly wage reporting and premium payments starting April 1, 2025, and they are due by April 30, 2025.

Stay up to date by signing up for the PFML Get Notified List and learn more in our FAQ, employer resources, recorded demonstrations, and step by step guides on our website: Maine.gov/paidleave

Paid Medical Family Leave – Savings Opportunity with Private Insurance Plan 

Dear PLC Members,

*The email below is not an endorsement by the PLC for this program. This email is  for informational purposes only and is being sent on behalf of United Insurance.* 

As you may know, Maine’s Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) Act will take effect on January 1, 2025.

This new law requires that all employers with 15 or more employees contribute 1% of wages to the state beginning on January 1, 2025 (employers with 14 or fewer employees do not have to contribute, but their employees must contribute .05%). For employers with 15 or more employees, the 1% can be split between employer and employees by up to a 50/50 split. Below is information on a potential savings opportunity as well as some compliance information from the state of Maine. While you may be familiar with the law, I want to ensure you’re aware of how you can reduce the impact of PFML.

SAVINGS OPPORTUNITY:

The Private Plan Option: Every organization will be required to remit payroll premium to the State for the first 3 months of 2025. This is mandatory regardless of the strategy you choose. Come April 1, 2025, electing to use a Private plan, you remove your obligation of remitting payroll premium to the State until the Private plan becomes effective 5/1/2026. At that point, you will begin paying premiums to the private plan option you have selected.

Benefits of a Private Plan: 

• Cost Savings: Reduce the duration of payroll contributions significantly.
• Flexibility: Tailor benefits to align with your employees’ needs and your business goals.
• Streamlined Administration: Avoid navigating the complexities of the state’s program.

To put this in perspective, I recently worked with a client that has 38 employees (part-time and full-time). We were able to save them $24,000 in payroll and lock them into a 2-year rate guarantee below the Maine state rate. 

COMPLIANCE ITEMS:

• Contribution Timeline: Payroll contributions begin January 1, 2025.
• What Employers Need To Know 2025: Attached document provided by the State of ME
• ME PFML FAQ: FAQ Document provided by the State of ME
• ME PFML Employee Notification Notice: Required Labor notice that needs to be posted for employees.
• State Portal: Each employer will need to register within the States portal for this benefit. Below is a link for more guidance on how to register after January.
  • Educational webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAOSk0-3Wq0 

As PLC Supporting Members, United Insurance is here to help you and your team navigate this new law and understand your options. To take advantage of the savings opportunity, it’s essential to act quickly. Setting up a Private Plan requires planning and documentation.

If you would like more information on how the Private Option works, please contact us. We can schedule a call to discuss the details and see how our team can help you save on payroll pre-funding.

Sincerely,
Alex Goodhile
Account Executive, Employee Benefits

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.Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Report Dec. 16

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Weekly Report

Vermont News Clips

RSVP Here

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Upcoming Classes

Scaffolding & Fall Protection – 
January 13, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta 
Falls are one of the leading causes of death and injury in the workplace. This course provides the construction and general industry standards that regulate walking-working surfaces, including scaffolding, and the fall protection control measures that are available to protect your employees.

OSHA Recordkeeping –
January 14, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This class provides thorough and comprehensive six-hour training for both new and experienced safety and human resources personnel. You will learn the OSHA rule (29 CFR 1904) regarding recording and reporting work-related injuries and illnesses as it applies to your organization, including COVID-19 recordability guidance. This class includes several hands-on activities on how to correctly fill out the required injury reporting forms.

Wage & Hour Compliance –
January 15, 2025 l 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

10-Hr. Shipyard Standards – 
January 16 & 17, 2025 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 teaches hazard identification and controls on a variety of shipyard industry safety and health topics (29CFR 1915). This is an entry-level course and attendees who complete this course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

Wage & Hour Compliance –
January 22, 2025 l 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Joseph L. Ferris Community Center, 318 Wilson Street, Brewer
This course is designed for human resource or benefits professionals, accountants, business owners, managers, or payroll supervisors. Labor laws can be complex. This seminar covers wage and hour laws, including minimum wage, overtime, youth employment, severance pay, equal pay, rest breaks, leave requirements (earned paid leave, family medical leave, family sick leave and leave for victims of violence). This class addresses commonly asked labor-related questions.

How to Conduct a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment –
January 23, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Every workplace is required to assess the workplace for hazards which require personal protective equipment. This course assists employers in how to assess a workplace, hazard recognition, determining the appropriate personal protective equipment, and the elements of a Certificate of Hazard Assessment.

Safety and the Supervisor –
January 28, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
The success of any safety program is dependent on your front-line supervisors. Do they have the technical and interpersonal skills it takes to move your safety program in a positive direction? This training discusses the interpersonal skills all supervisors should develop to create a positive safety culture. In addition, the course will outline the key tasks supervisors should be performing daily to identify hazards and keep their employees safe.

Hazard Communication, Global Harmonization, and Chemical Substitution – 
January 29, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
Employees have the right to receive information and training regarding hazardous substances in the workplace. This course provides employers with the elements of a written program, container labeling, safety data sheets, and training requirements. Also included are the basics of chemical substitution as a tool to decrease the risks of hazardous substances in the workplace.

10-Hr. Construction Standards –
January 30 & 31, 2025 l 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (Day 1), 8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (Day2) SafetyWorks! Training Institute, 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta
This one-and-a-half-day course teaches hazard identification and controls on a variety of construction industry safety and health topics (29 CFR 1926). This is an entry-level course and attendees who complete this course will receive an OSHA 10-hour course completion certificate.

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 https://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!

Register Here

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.

PLC Online Store

Looking for great PLC items and apparel? Gifts? First Aid packs, safety items and more?

You will find them at the new PLC Online Store on our web site. Ordering is easy.

Shop Here

Member Discounts

ALC Member Discounts

PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts!

Fabian Oil Discount

Wallingford’s Discounts

Dirigo Waste Oil

10% Discount on new furnaces. Contact Justin at 207-873-0881

Maine Trailer Discounts

Maine Trailer Discounts

Treeline Discounts

Click Here Discount Pricing on Skidder Bridges and Crane Mats

PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons

Hale Trailer Discounts

Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!

Preferred Supporting Members

Enhanced Supporting Members