PLC Member Weekly Update Oct. 8, 2021
In this Issue:
PLC Annual Meeting – Register! Donate to Auction!
Labor Secretary Walsh Visit – PLC Roundtable
Health Premium Support Program – Subsidy Available!
PLC Store – Many items for sale
Safety Resources – PLC Safety Committee Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 9
Trucking – Updates weekly
Classified listings – Check them out!
Member Discounts – Many to choose from
Logging News – Latest headlines
DEADLINE OCT. 15! Pandemic relief funds for timber harvesters and haulers available!
Applying is easy!
Members,
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced in July that $200 million in aid for timber harvesters and haulers included in a bipartisan $900 billion COVID-19 relief package approved more than six months ago would be released and Maine loggers and truckers could begin applying for the funds July 22.
The full announcement by USDA may be found HERE, including details on who is eligible and how to apply.
*PLEASE NOTE – Applying for assistance is quick and easy. In fact, the American Loggers Council (ALC) says there is “probably not a simpler federal assistance program.”
As of early September only 3,000 applications had been submitted and nearly $2 million in initial payments had been disbursed. Prior American Loggers Council surveys and estimates indicate that far more are eligible. The application is only one and a half pages long. APPLY NOW!!!
Loggers and truckers can apply for assistance through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) July 22 through Oct. 15, 2021. The relief program is being called the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers program (PATHH) and is administered by FSA in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service.
Who is eligible?
Timber harvesting and hauling businesses that have experienced a gross revenue loss of at least 10% during the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2020, compared to the period of Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2019, are encouraged to apply.
To be eligible for payments, individuals or legal entities must be a timber harvesting or timber hauling business where 50% or more of its gross revenue is derived from one or more of the following:
-Cutting timber
-Transporting timber.
-Processing of wood on-site on the forest land (chipping, grinding, converting to biochar, cutting to smaller lengths, etc.).
How much aid can I receive?
Payments will be based on the applicant’s gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2019, through Dec. 1, 2019, minus gross revenue received from Jan. 1, 2020, through Dec. 1, 2020, multiplied by 80%. FSA will issue an initial payment equal to the lesser of the calculated payment amount or $2,000 as applications are approved. A second payment will be made after the signup period has ended based upon remaining PATHH funds.
The maximum amount that a person or legal entity may receive directly is $125,000.
How do I apply?
Loggers and truckers can apply for PATHH beginning on July 22 by completing form FSA-1118, Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program application, and certifying to their gross revenue for 2019 and 2020 on the application. Additional documentation may be required. Visit farmers.gov/pathh for more information on how to apply.
Applications can be submitted to the FSA office at any USDA Service Center nationwide by mail, fax, hand delivery, or via electronic means. To find a local FSA office, loggers and truckers can visit farmers.gov/service-locator. They can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer assistance.
Information on where to locate your nearest Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Maine is available HERE.
The American Loggers Council has also provided a helpful Q&A on PATHH. It is available HERE.
Webinar Recording Available
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is making a recording available of last their webinar on the Pandemic Assistance for Timber Harvesters and Haulers Program (PATHH) that was held Thursday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. This webinar is for timber harvesters and haulers in the Northeast states of Maine, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont.
If you missed the webinar, we encourage you to review it. This link will take you to a website called Box, where you can either watch it right there, or download the file: https://nrcs.box.com/s/x74nepkpd02fuhi4yqe720spscgeqnwb
APPLY FOR RELIEF FUNDS HERE
PLC Annual Meeting Oct. 29!
Register Now! Donate to Auction!
With a little more than three weeks left until the PLC’s 25th Annual Meeting and Log A Load For Maine Kids Auction on Oct. 29, it is time to register and to support the Log A Load for Maine Kids Auction with donations of cash or items! We have a full schedule of events and speakers this year and look forward to celebrating our 25th meeting with you at a great new location, the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor!
Check out the full schedule of events and details as well as a printable registration form and Log A Load Auction form HERE.
You may also:
Register online HERE.
Donate cash or items to the auction HERE.
Don’t delay!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Clark at the PLC!
Member Services, PLC of Maine
Phone: 207-688-8195 -Opt.1
Labor Secretary Walsh Visits PLC
The PLC was proud to host two active harvest site visits and an in-the-woods roundtable discussion on the needs of the logging industry Oct. 5 with U.S. Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh organized by Congressman Jared Golden. Thank you to Sec. Walsh for taking time out of his busy schedule to talk directly with loggers and see the industry up close – including operating a grapple skidder and spending time in a processor.
Thank you also to Congressman Golden for making the visit happen and to PLC Member companies Maine Custom Woodlands and Trees Ltd. for hosting the site visits in Augusta and Fayette, Thanks also to PLC Members who joined the roundtable discussion. This was great exposure for Maine’s logging industry!
Small Business Health Insurance Premium Support Program
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Members,
Starting in November, the State of Maine will be making available a subsidy for small business health insurance plan providers (less than 50 employees). This program will be funded by federal pandemic relief funds, and will run for 18 months. It is intended to provide temporary premium relief to small employers and their employees. The Maine Bureau of Insurance will be doing rulemaking for it this fall.
A powerpoint that is linked below provides a good summary of the program and we encourage you to review it. The PLC will provide additional information on this program as it becomes available.
Funds for the program are being provided through LD 1733, the bill allocating nearly $1 billion in federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
INFORMATIONAL POWERPOINT
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.
CHECK IT OUT HERE
Safety Resources
TRAINING TOPIC: Accident Investigations—Root Cause Analysis
October 12, 2021
VIA ZOOM
9:00am – 11:00am
PLC Safety Committee Meeting – Tuesday, Nov. 9
You are invited to join us ONLINE on Tuesday, November 9th for a PLC Safety Committee (open to ALL PLC members) meeting to develop our safety training programs for 2022. You will also learn about training requirements and online training options that are available in 2021/22.
From 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., join us, along with your local insurance agent and representatives from Acadia and MEMIC, to develop our safety plans for 2021. Following the safety committee meeting, Acadia clients and affiliated agents are invited to stay for a presentation from Acadia Insurance from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. to learn about claim trends, rates and areas of focus for 2021.
Please RSVP to: jessica@maineloggers.com or call 207-688-8195 ext. 1
A LINK TO THE MEETING AND THE AGENDA WILL BE SENT TO ALL WHO RSVP.
Spring Trainings Available Online!
Members Only!
GO TO MEMBERS ONLY
NE Safe Logger
Now is a great time for online training!
NE Safe Logger:
Northeast Safe Logger is an entry level safety and workers’ comp. compliance training program for new entrants to the industry. This is a way for your company to create a culture of safety and reduce risk with a program created by loggers for loggers.
· 16 hours of interactive online training
· Complete on a computer, tablet or smart phone
· Done at the users’ own pace anytime day or night
Upon completion participants will get the discounted “certified logger” rate for workers’ compensation insurance in the State of Maine. Visit www.tcnef.org/nesafelogger/ for more information on pricing.
Log-ins are limited and will be awarded on a first come first served basis. Your company will be put on a wait list if all the log-ins are in use.
LEARN MORE about these training options by emailing Jessica at jessica@maineloggers.com or calling (207) 688-8195.
Trucking
As we enter into the fall we enter into the increase of morning and afternoon traffic with schools starting up. Please take time to plan your routes and to be aware of not only the increase in vehicle traffic, but expect an increase in pedestrian traffic and bicycle traffic! EYES UP… JUST DRIVE and BE AWARE.
Reminder: Onboard documentation and supporting documents
Motor carriers and drivers have specific requirements under the ELD regulations. Some of the most commonly cited violations pertain to the documents and materials drivers are required to have with them in the commercial motor vehicle (CMV), or that motor carriers must retain in their files, and provide to enforcement personnel upon request. Below are a few reminders to help motor carriers and drivers adhere to these requirements. Learn more…
Logging Industry News
2021 ALC Meeting Virtual Events
Can’t be here in person for the American Loggers Council 27th Annual Meeting and Conference?
Join us virtually while we livestream portions via the ALC Facebook page and Zoom Webinars at the links below:
Seminars October 8th 8:00am – 4:00pm Pacific Timehttps://us06web.zoom.us/j/
Presidents Dinner and Auction October 8th at 7:00 Pacific Time American Loggers Council | Facebook
Membership Meeting October 9th at 9:15am Pacific Time https://us06web.zoom.us/
Awards Lunch October 9th at 11:30am Pacific TimeAmerican Loggers Council | Facebook
Presidents Farewell Dinner and American Loggers Council | Facebook
Member Discounts
TRUCKING DISCOUNTS THROUGH THE ALC!
PLC Members, because the PLC is a member of the American Loggers Council YOU are entitled to special discounts on truck purchases! Click on the brand names below to learn more!
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Fabian Oil Discount
Traction Heavy Duty Special
Wallingford’s Discounts
Maine Trailer Discounts
Scandinavian Forestry Equipment
Sullivan Tire Discount Skidder Tires
PLC Members get a 5% discount on culverts purchased at Treeline and Frank Martin & Sons
Hale Trailer discounts for PLC Members on new trailer purchases! Call Neal at 207-232-7969 for details!
Cross Arena Discounts for PLC!
Classifieds
PLC Classified Section
Check out the equipment and job opportunities our members have listed at the LOGGING ZONE! If you have equipment for sale, are looking to buy, are looking for employees, or
Preferred Supporting Members
Preferred Supporting Members
