PLC Logger's Voice Summer 2020 PROOF

months away, the PLC led early efforts to mobilize a
national effort to secure federal relief for loggers similar to
that already earmarked for the fishing and farming
industries.
That effort is now centered around a proposal put
forth by the 34 member associations of the
American Loggers Council (ALC) which would reserve
$2.5 billion to provide a loan program for contractors that
harvested/delivered wood to various mills across the
country in 2019.
If it is approved by Congress and President Trump,
contractors would be able to apply for low-interest bridge
loans through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assist
them with their ability to continue business operations for
the next twelve months while markets attempt to recover. If
a company that applies for and receives the funding can
prove that their revenues or volume delivered are down
10% or more from 2019, the funds will be treated as a grant
and forgiven. If company revenues are down less than 10%
than what they declared in 2019, the funds will become a
low interest loan and need to be repaid.
Maine loggers are not the sort to ask for help
lightly, particularly from the government, but with the
industry in an unprecedented crisis threatening their
businesses and the jobs and communities that depend on
them, many now see little option.
“Speaking for myself, we need some assistance out
here somewhere,” Gavin said. “I hate asking for assistance
and I’m not a big fan of handouts, believe me there’s
nothing I hate worse than asking for help with anything, but
we’re truly in a mess as an industry right now, I don’t know
how else to describe it.”
Richard agreed he also does not like the idea of
assistance but wished that something could be done to help
bring back the Jay mill or at least restore that market.
“We don’t need handouts, we need a market, we
need that mill in Jay to run. That’s where I feel that help
from the government or from the state, that’s where it
needs to go,” Richard said.
Up in St. Francis, trying to figure out what to do
for his business and workers in the face of a challenge
beyond anything he and the rest of the industry expected
only a few months ago, Mike agreed he does not want to
ask for help but does not know what else to do at this point.
“I’m looking for anything that can help us get
through this, the banks are doing everything they can, and I
can’t ask anymore from the bankers, it’s the government
I’m looking at saying is there any way you can help?” Mike
said. “We’re proud people, we’ve decided to fight this until
we can’t anymore not just for me but for the 20 families
depending on this business that have become my family,
we don’t want to give up...but every company that’s in the
woods today is going to need some help, and if there is no
help now, there will not be anyone left to help later.”
Ron Ridley processing wood in Jay, ME
Opposite: Corey Ridley (at left) and Ron Ridley on
the job.
The Logger’s Voice ▪ Summer 2020 15