New SLoCAMP Grant Opportunity For Loggers Working in Vermont

Cost-share program aids proactive 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 to help logging contractors that work in Vermont implement proactive water quality protection and climate adaptation practices on their harvest sites will soon be holding in-person and online informational workshops for those interested in accessing the funding.

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.

SLoCAMP will begin accepting applications on July 21. In preparation for that, all logging contractors who work in the state of Vermont are invited to attend in-person informational workshops to learn more about the program. The workshops will be held on June 24 in Island Pond, VT; and on June 25 in Mendon, VT. Each will run from 7:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. They are free, and lunch will be provided. To register, go to https://plcloggers.org/registration-form-2/.

For those unable to attend one of the workshops, an informational webinar will be held on July 15 from 7-8 p.m. To register for the webinar, go to https://plcloggers.org/slocamp-webinar-registration-form/

Funding is available through SLoCAMP for materials and labor tied to pre-harvest site preparation, including:

• Hardening truck roads and landings

• Skid trail improvement

• Temporary stream crossings

• Permanent stream crossings

To qualify for the program, an applicant must:

• Be a logging contractor operating on a harvest site in Vermont over 10 acres in size, with a long-term forest management focus. 

• Own more than 50% of the equipment used on-site.

• Earn more than 50% of their income from timber harvesting.

• Be in good standing with relevant Vermont agencies (Act 154). 

• Be harvesting on land that has been under the same ownership for 5+ years.

• Have a contract with the landowner (unless it’s their land).

• Complete the project or projects by June 30, 2026.

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, 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.

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 forest trucking contractors a voice along with a suite of other forest certification programs which are grounded in responsible forest management. Board membership consists of only loggers, making it an organization that is run by loggers on behalf of loggers.

Learn more about the PLC at www.plcloggers.org