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Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program
The Maine Forest Service’s Division of Forest Policy and Management (MFS), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), and the Maine Municipal Bond Bank (MMBB) have teamed up to offer a mechanism to provide incentive financing to loggers that reduces non-point source pollution risk on timber harvests in Maine.
Background
Modeled after, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Silvicultural Direct Link Loan Program, the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program utilizes Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds to provide low-interest rate financing for Forestry Best Management Practices (BMPs). The purpose of providing this financial incentive is to increase the use of BMPs and environmentally friendly logging equipment in the logging industry. This, in turn, will help to protect and improve water quality in and around logging operations.
Program Description
Current Master Loggers, Certified Logging Professionals, and Qualified Logging Professionals are eligible to obtain low-interest financing from participating banks through a Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program.
MFS will:
- determine the items that are eligible for financing,
- ensure that the logger is second or third party certified,
- ensure that the logger retains, on file, a Harvest Operations Plan (HOP) including HOP standards specified for the DLL program,
- monitor the improvements and practices of the logger.
The DEP and MMBB will:
- enter into a memorandum of understanding with MFS to implement the program,
- work with local banks to participate in the program, and
- provide oversight within the context of managing the Maine Forestry Direct Link Loan Program.
