Bas-Saint-Laurent Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2027 – Attractions, activities and facilities

• Completed and signed official application form submitted in Excel format.
• Full business plan or project plan, including required permits and authorizations.
• Financial statements for the last two years and interim or projected financial statements, as required.
• Board or council resolution authorizing the signatory and confirming commitments.
• Attestations or certificates such as OQLF compliance, tourism accreditations and, if applicable, Indigenous status certification.

• The applicant must be a tourism enterprise, municipal entity, Indigenous community or an eligible grouping operating in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region.
• The organization must be legally constituted under Quebec or Canadian law and conduct business in Quebec.
• The project must align with EPRTNT objectives and regional priorities in sectors such as maritime, nature, culinary, cultural or four-season tourism.
• The project must meet the minimum eligible cost threshold for its category and respect required own-source funding and public aid accumulation limits.
• The applicant must be compliant with applicable tourism, francization and sectoral regulations, including required registrations and accreditations.

Who is eligible?

• For-profit tourism enterprises.
• Non-profit tourism organizations.
• Tourism cooperatives.
• Municipal entities and regional tourism associations.
• Recognized Indigenous communities, nations and Indigenous tourism organizations or enterprises.

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations and departments or agencies of the governments of Quebec and Canada.
• Organizations listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Organizations not compliant with the francization process of the Office québécois de la langue française.

Eligible expenses

• Construction, expansion, redevelopment and adaptation of tourism infrastructures, including land development, trails and specialized equipment or furniture.
• Acquisition and installation of tourism equipment, boats or rolling stock dedicated to enhancing the visitor experience and workforce retention.
• Professional fees for design, engineering, technical staff, project management, studies, business plans and sustainable development plans.
• Project-related travel, salaries and benefits for dedicated human resources, and general costs directly tied to eligible structuring projects.
• Net taxes, contingencies (within program limits) and costs related to integrating artworks under the Quebec public art integration policy.

Eligible geographic areas

• Tourism businesses operating in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec.
• Organizations legally constituted in Quebec or Canada and doing business in Quebec.

• Alignment with EPRTNT objectives and identified regional tourism priorities.
• Structuring impact, including attraction power, reach, spillovers, partnerships, job creation and season extension.
• Innovative character and quality of the tourism concept, products and services.
• Sound financial structure, including project financing plan and relevance to target markets and clientele.
• Overall feasibility, including schedule, business plan quality, proponent expertise and integration of sustainable development principles.

• Step 1: Validate Eligibility
  • Use the self-assessment questionnaire for the relevant category to check organizational and project eligibility.
  • Confirm that the project meets minimum cost thresholds, sectoral exclusions and funding limits.
• Step 2: Obtain Official Application Form
  • Contact Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent by email or phone to request the official Excel application form.
  • Schedule a meeting with the team at least 10 working days before the call deadline.
• Step 3: Prepare Application Dossier
  • Complete and sign the Excel application form for the chosen category.
  • Prepare the required business or project plan and all financial statements and projections.
  • Gather resolutions, attestations, permits and partner funding confirmations as required.
• Step 4: Submit Application
  • Send the completed form and all required documents by email to programmes@bassaintlaurent.ca before the indicated deadline.
• Step 5: Sign Agreement and Provide Follow-up
  • If approved, confirm your financing package within six months and sign the financial assistance agreement.
  • Provide progress and final reports, including financial documentation, to receive remaining payments.

• Tourisme Bas-Saint-Laurent first verifies project eligibility and may request clarifications from the proponent.
• Eligible applications are analyzed, then reviewed and recommended by a management committee.
• Applicants receive a formal letter either announcing the approved funding amount or confirming refusal.
• Approved projects must sign a financial assistance agreement within six months of the announcement letter.
• Final payments are made after submission and validation of completion and financial reports, according to the level of aid.

• The financial assistance is non-repayable under the EPRTNT 2025-2027 agreement.
• Only one project submission per operating site is allowed in the Attractions, activities and facilities category for 2025-2027.
• Applicants must allow at least two months after each call deadline to receive a funding decision.
• Projects must integrate sustainable development measures and will be assessed on their environmental, social and economic approach.