Working Lands Enterprise Initiative
The Working Lands Enterprise Initiative (WLEI) offers funding opportunities to a variety of business structures encompassing forest, farm, and food enterprises. Visit the WLEI website for additional information, including an overview of all WLEI funding opportunities.
Temporary Skidder Bridge Grant Program
The Forest Watershed Program is announcing the next round of skidder bridge grant applications. For this round, there are two types of bridges available:
- Temporary Wooden Skidder Bridges - there will be 22 bridges available free of charge to eligible loggers and foresters who work in the Lake Champlain watershed. These bridges are the standard 12’ wide and 20’ long Hemlock bridges that are made up of three panels. Any logger or forester that makes 51% or more of their income from logging is eligible to apply. A lottery system will be used to select the bridge grantees, and each grantee will have to sign a grant agreement with the State of Vermont. Grantees will be responsible for picking up the bridge in East Montpelier. The bridges are being built now and will be available later in the summer. Funding for these bridges is from the Lake Champlain Basin Program and priority will be given to those loggers and foresters working in the Champlain Basin. Wooden Bridge Applications are due August 5th.
- Temporary Steel Skidder Bridges - there will be 5 heavy-duty steel skidder bridges available at a 75% cost-share. The bridges are made of two panels 6’ wide and 25’ long with 3 I-beams per side and a Hemlock deck. These bridges cost $15,668 to build and the cost to the grantee will be $3,917.05. Any logger or forester that makes 51% or more of their income from logging is eligible to apply. A lottery system will be used to select the bridge grantees and each grantee will have to sign a grant agreement with the State of Vermont. Grantees will be responsible for picking up the bridge in Putney. The bridges are being built now and will be available later in the summer. Funding for these bridges comes from State Capitol funds and Clean Water Funds. Steel Bridge Applications are due August 10th.
Disaster Assistance for Primary Forest Products Businesses
Limited funds will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to reimburse up to 50% of the cost of stationary sawmilling equipment damaged or destroyed by fire, flood, or other disasters. Contact katharine.servidio@vermont.gov for more information.