Financial Relief Provided For Timber Losses
Conservation Advisory Board To Meet in Jasper May 8
April 15, 2021
Financial Relief Prov
ided For Timber Losses
Contact: Elishia Ballentine (334) 315-8019
elishia.ballentine@forestry.alabama.gov
Financial relief will soon be available to assist timber owners adversely affected by Hurricane Michael in 2018, as well as the Lee County tornadoes of March 2019. Administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Hurricane Michael Block Grant is made possible through an agreement with the USDA Farm Service Agency.
This program was designed to provide $10 million in financial relief to qualifying non-industrial private forest landowners of Alabama with a one-time payment. Eligible citizens must own timber in the following counties: Barbour, Bullock, Coffee, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Escambia, Geneva, Henry, Houston, Lee, Montgomery, Pike, or Russell. Additional eligibility requirements must be met for compensation of hurricane or tornado-related crop loss.
“We’re pleased to be able to provide this relief to those forest landowners who suffered losses during Hurricane Michael,” stated State Forester Rick Oates. “It’s very appropriate that the grant also include assistance for the landowners who were devastated by the Lee County tornadoes.”
The grant application period will launch on June 14 and run through August 1. For further information regarding additional eligibility requirements, please visit the ‘Hurricane Michael Block Grant’ section of the Alabama Forestry Commission’s website at www.forestry.alabama.gov, or contact the agency at hurricane.michael@forestry.alabama.gov or by phone at (334) 240-9300, extension 4.
The mission of the Alabama Forestry Commission is to protect and sustain Alabama’s forest resources using professionally applied stewardship principles and education, ensuring that the state’s forests contribute to abundant timber and wildlife, clean air and water, and a healthy economy. For more information about the fire situation in your area or any other forestry related issues, contact your local Alabama Forestry Commission office or visit the AFC website at www.forestry.alabama.gov.
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