Our Forest Business program provides businesses in Vermont’s forest product sector with management resources, skills development, and one-on-one planning services. We aim to support the development of a sustainable forest economy in the Northeast by working with a diverse set of businesses including loggers, foresters, processors, mills, woodworkers, wood manufacturers and timber framers.
We currently offer two core services: one-on-one, in-depth business planning assistance and business clinics, and additionally coordinate the Forest Business Roundtable to foster skills and relationship building within the forest products community. For more information see our Forest Business Program Information Sheet (PDF).
For general inquiries, contact Corinne Cooper, Corinne.Cooper@uvm.edu or (802) 656-4824.
Business Planning Tools
If you are looking for tools to help you plan for your logging business, check out UVM Extension Small Business Planning for Loggers (PDF).
This interactive PDF package developed by Steven Bick and Chris Lindgren can be used by timber harvesting companies to prepare the essential elements of a business plan. It includes business analysis modules and example business plans for tree-length, whole-tree, and cut-to-length systems.
For a quick review of your logging business plan, try our One Page Logging Business Worksheet (PDF).
Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program
UVM Extension partners with the Vermont Farm and Forest Viability Program to provide business education and one-on-one business coaching to Vermont’s forest related enterprises. Read more about their options for forest products business advising.
The Farm & Forest Viability Program is open to Vermont-based farm, food, and forest businesses. Services are geared toward those that gross over $15,000 annually, have 2 years of operating experience, and source most of their products in-state. If this doesn’t describe your business, please reach out about services we can offer.
Farm & Forest Viability clients have access to roughly two years of tailored advising with farm, food, and forest business advisors.
There are three tracks within the program:
- Business Planning
- Transfer/Succession Planning
- Short-term in-depth planning (ex. cash flow, enterprise analysis, exit planning, & more)
Within these tracks, clients may work on: Business Planning, Financial Record-keeping & Cash Flow Management, Marketing & Sales, Retirement & Succession Planning, Exploring Potential New Products/Services, Planning Capital Improvements & Accessing Financing, Land Access & Land Stewardship, and Management Coaching.
To apply for the program, we encourage you to reach out to Calley Hastings, Program Manager, to discuss your eligibility and goals before completing your application at c.hastings@vhcb.org.
