Business Growth — Growth support vouchers
Ville de Québec, QC, Canada
Funding for innovative Canadian business projects
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|closingDateJune 01, 2024
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- Quebec City
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The grant provides a maximum funding amount of $500,000 to support small and medium-sized enterprises in developing innovative technologies. Eligible activities include research and development, technology adoption, and commercialization efforts to enhance competitiveness and growth.
grant_single_labels|projects
Yes, there are several projects and activities eligible for this grant.
- A technology cooperative can consult with an expert to optimize its production floor.
- A plastics company can conduct a study on circular economy and recycling.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$20,000
Study on circular economy and recycling for a plastics manufacturing company
$20,000
GreenCo environmental consultation to enhance waste management strategies
$15,000
FoodCoop Inc consulting engagement for optimizing production facilities
$20,000
Recycling initiative for EcoFriendly Solutions with consultancy from Green Planet Inc
$18,000
GreenTech Ltd consulting project to enhance recycling methods
$20,000
Consulting project to optimize production processes for a technology cooperative
grant_single_labels|admissibility
To be eligible for this grant, applicants must meet specific criteria related to the type of enterprise, sectors of activity, territorial location, and project characteristics.
- Private incorporated companies
- Social economy enterprises (non-profit organizations and cooperatives) conducting primarily commercial activities
- Individually owned businesses and general partnerships majority-owned by Indigenous people and located in Wendake
- Sectors such as agro-food, digital arts, financial technologies, optics-photonics, life sciences, clean technologies, and several others
- Projects must demonstrate innovation and export potential, or post-pandemic recovery
- Consultant must be chosen by the company and approved by the City of Quebec before contract signing
- The company's head office must be located within the agglomeration of Quebec or Wendake
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. The grant is available for private incorporated businesses and social economy enterprises engaged in commercial activities within the specified regions.
- Private incorporated businesses
- Social economy enterprises (non-profit organizations and cooperatives) primarily engaged in commercial activities
- Individually owned and collectively owned businesses majorly owned by Indigenous peoples located in Wendake
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
The grant excludes certain types of companies from eligibility. Below is a summary of the types of companies that are not eligible for this grant.
- Concessionaires of vehicles
- Retailers of automotive parts
- Gas stations
- Collaborative tourist accommodations (e.g., Airbnb, HomeAway)
- Businesses operating solely online
- Social economy enterprises (OBNL and co-op) that do not demonstrate sound democratic governance
- Applicants not discharged from a bankruptcy judgment
- Companies listed in the Register of businesses not eligible for public contracts
- Applicants who, within the past two years, failed to meet obligations related to prior financial aid granted by the City of Québec
- Applicants with outstanding amounts due to the City of Québec
- Projects with a discriminatory, controversial, or negative image risk for the City of Québec
- One-time events or projects of an event nature
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
This grant supports activities centered around digital transformation and technological integration in businesses. The eligible projects are designed to enhance operational efficiency and drive innovation in the digital landscape.
- Implementation of advanced technological solutions to optimize business processes.
- Integration of digital platforms to enhance customer engagement and service delivery.
- Development of software solutions to improve logistical and supply chain management.
- Adoption of cybersecurity measures to protect digital infrastructure.
- Training programs for upskilling employees in digital tools and technologies.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The eligible geographic zones for this grant are within the Agglomeration of Québec and Wendake.
- Québec City
- Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures
- L’Ancienne-Lorette
- Wendake
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Verify Eligibility
- Confirm that your enterprise is either a private incorporated company or an eligible social economy enterprise (OBNL or cooperative).
- Check that your enterprise does not fall under the excluded categories such as vehicle dealerships, online-only businesses, or enterprises with governance issues, among others.
- Step 2: Confirm Sector and Territory Eligibility
- Ensure that your project falls within one of the priority, strategic, or commercial sectors defined in the grant details.
- Verify that the project will be undertaken within the eligible geographic territories, i.e., the agglomeration of Québec (cities of Québec, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, and L'Ancienne-Lorette) or Wendake.
- Step 3: Prepare the Project Proposal
- Outline a strong business model, demonstrating innovation, financial capacity, organizational management, and the project's unique and novel aspects.
- Ensure the proposal includes a clear statement of the need for financial assistance.
- Step 4: Identify a Consultant
- Select a consultant to assist with the project, if required. Note that the mandate must be approved by the City of Québec before signing the contract.
- Step 5: Complete the Application Form
- Fill out the "Formulaire de demande de financement" as specified in the grant documentation.
- Include all required documents as listed in the application form.
- Step 6: Submit the Application
- Ensure the application is substantially complete and conforms to all requirements.
- Submit the application for review. There is no fixed deadline, as submissions are open continuously.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The grant aims to support businesses in obtaining consulting services for strategic issues at various development stages, covering sectors such as clean technologies, artificial intelligence, and urban security, among others.
- Eligible applicants include incorporated private companies, social economy enterprises, and certain individually-owned businesses by Indigenous people in Wendake.
- Exclusions cover vehicle dealers, purely online businesses, and entities with certain legal or financial issues.
- Priority sectors include agrofood, digital arts, life sciences, and clean technologies, while strategic sectors encompass arts, insurance, manufacturing, and tourism.
- Financial contribution is non-refundable, capped at $25,000 annually for businesses and $10,000 for social enterprises, with a two-year cap of $500,000 for all economic development programs.
- Eligible expenses include professional fees, consulting services, and studies, excluding operational expenses and debt payments.
Apply to this program
Unlock Funding for Sustainability and Innovation
This grant supports projects that drive innovation and contribute to sustainable development within targeted industries. It is designed to provide resources to organizations looking to effect meaningful change.
Exploring the Grant's Purpose and Benefits for Businesses
This grant initiative is strategically created to empower businesses across multiple sectors to advance their sustainability objectives while fostering innovation. By providing financial assistance, this grant enables companies to initiate or expand projects that can significantly impact their industry and community, aligning with present-day economic and environmental standards. The primary focus is to underscore innovation in sustainable practices, ensuring industries can thrive in a rapidly changing global marketplace whilst integrating eco-friendly solutions into their core operations.
Businesses, particularly SMEs, are encouraged to apply, as they are vital to Canada's economic fabric and possess the agility to test new models and methods in real-world settings. The grant serves as a catalyst for SMEs to explore and integrate innovative technologies or methodologies that may otherwise be beyond their financial reach. By doing so, it aims to enhance competitive advantage and stimulate job creation within local communities, contributing to a robust economic landscape.
The grant's architecture is designed to provide both monetary support and additional resources such as strategic guidance, training, and partnership opportunities. This holistic support system is crafted to assist organizations at every stage of their projects—from initial development through to implementation and monitoring—ensuring that the initiatives not only launch successfully but also achieve sustainable long-term impacts. Moreover, it assists businesses in navigating regulatory environments, helping to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with local and national standards.
In facilitating forward-thinking projects, the grant seeks not only to address the immediate needs of businesses in their innovation and sustainability journeys but also to contribute to wider societal benefits. Initiatives funded by this grant are expected to reflect a commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic resilience, thereby aligning with national goals for sustainability and innovation.
Organizations applying for this grant are invited to present comprehensive proposals that demonstrate clarity of vision, proven capability, and potential impact. They are assessed on criteria such as innovation potential, scalability, sustainability, and overall relevance to industry and community needs. This rigorous evaluation process ensures that funded projects are positioned to succeed and make a tangible contribution to their respective sectors.
As businesses embrace this opportunity, they not only gain financial backing but become part of a broader movement towards a more sustainable future. The grant thus represents an invaluable platform for innovation, offering a pathway for organizations to make significant strides towards sustainability while achieving their business goals.
