Browse Ambrook’s collection of funding programs by South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC)

Contact your local SC Forestry Commission office (county Project Forester) for an application; submit the completed application, IRS Form W-9, proof of ownership and a forest management plan approved by an SCFC forester. Do not begin work until notified that the application is approved.

Deadline text on the page: FRP brochure: 'The SC Forestry Commission will begin funding of applications in July of each year.' 'For best opportunity to be funded applications should be submitted prior to May 15th.' 'Applicants not funded in July due to funding limitations will be placed on a waiting list for future funding. Mid-year funding may be possible.'

General office

SC Forestry Commission main office

Russell Hubright

Management Chief (Forest management division)

South Carolina's state reforestation cost-share program, funded mainly by an assessment on forest industries and partly by state appropriations. It reimburses eligible non-industrial landowners 40% of actual cost (up to per-acre maximums) for site preparation and tree planting on previously forested or agricultural land, and for timber stand improvement. Funding starts each July, with a waiting list when funds run short.



- Any private individual, group, partnership, association, trust or corporation not engaged in the manufacture of wood products, or any other legal entity owning non-industrial forestland capable of producing wood products (stockholders in forest-products companies are eligible as individuals)
- Not eligible: private entities manufacturing forest products (sawmills, pulp and paper mills, plywood plants, oleoresin plants); public utilities or governmental agencies
- Land must be capable of growing at least 50 cubic feet of wood per acre per year; the 1,000-acre limit for federal cost-share does not apply to the state program
- Ten contiguous acres minimum per practice; maximum funding limited to practices on 100 acres; reforestation applications only after all merchantable timber has been harvested

A payment that requires some percentage of matching contributions by the recipient.

Cost Share

Reimbursement of 40% of actual cost up to per-acre maximums, paid directly to the landowner after the forester verifies the work (invoices required; partial payment possible after site prep); practices completed within 20 months of funding; land maintained in forest for 10 years or until commercial harvest, or cost-share must be repaid.

Published amounts: The South Carolina Forestry Commission will reimburse the landowner 40% of the actual cost of the practice not to exceed the maximum per-acre rate for FRP (FRP/SPB Cost-Share Rates 2026-27). FRP maximum rates per acre include: Solid Planting – Loblolly $60, Longleaf (container) $87, Hardwood $92; V-blade Planting – Loblolly $75, Longleaf $107; Site Prep: Light Mechanical $67; Medium/Heavy Mechanical $143; Chemical $48; Burn $16; Post Plant Chemical $32; Herbaceous Weed Control (band spray) $16; Timber Stand Improvement (heavy) $32; Natural Regeneration – Hardwood $44; Subsoil $12; Scalp $10. The maximum funds allocated to any eligible landowner is limited to the amount needed to complete approved practices on 100 acres of land.

Contact the SCFC Project Forester for your county or the SPB Forester; the Commission forester prepares or approves a management plan and advises which program to apply for.

Deadline text on the page: Practice Guidelines of the SPB Cost Share Program, Rev. 07/2026 and FRP/SPB Cost-Share Rates 2026-27 are current; applications through the county Project Forester, waiting list when funds are limited.

Tyler Greiner

Southern Pine Beetle (SPB) Coordinator

David Jenkins

Forest Health Coordinator

A federally funded cost-share, run by SCFC, that reduces southern pine beetle risk by managing pine density. Prevention pays 60% of pre-commercial thinning costs (up to $127 per acre) in stands at least 4 years old. Restoration pays 50% of statewide-average cost to replant loblolly, longleaf or native hardwood at prescribed densities. Landowners must follow the practice guidelines or face reduced or withheld payments.



- Private, non-industrial landowners owning less than 1,000 acres of qualifying woodland may qualify for federal cost sharing (cost-share programs page)
- Prevention (pre-commercial thinning): planted or natural pine stand at least 4 years old; thinned to a residual density of 545 pine stems per acre (± 10%)
- Restoration (planting): at least 300 stems per acre after the first growing season; open-land planting and conversion of hardwood stands to pine are not allowed; natural pine regeneration must be controlled before planting
- Loblolly 484 stems per acre (± 10%, lowest 360); longleaf 545 stems per acre (± 10%); hardwood plantings must be native species

Compliance required: non-compliant PT stands may need additional stems removed or receive a reduced rate (40% up to $85/acre); non-compliant restoration plantings receive no funds until brought into compliance. SCFC notes SPB program payments are eligible for income exclusion.

Published amounts: Rates brochure 2026-27: SCFC will reimburse the landowner 50% of the actual cost of the practice not to exceed the maximum per-acre rate for SPB; for pre-commercial thinning, 60% of the actual cost not to exceed the maximum per-acre rate. SPB maximum rates per acre include: Solid Planting – Loblolly $75, Longleaf (container) $109, Hardwood $115; Site Prep: Light Mechanical $84, Medium/Heavy Mechanical $179, Chemical $60; Pre-commercial Thinning – Light 60% of cost, max $30/acre; Heavy 60% of cost, max $127/acre. Practice Guidelines: PT cost share rate will be 60% of costs up to $127/acre (reduced to 40% up to $85/acre if not in compliance).

List of South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) Funding Opportunities