Capitale-Commerce

• Financial statements for the last three completed fiscal years, if applicable, including an income statement and balance sheet.
• A board resolution authorizing the project lead to submit the financial assistance application to the Ville de Québec and sign all related documents, including the agreement.
• For a new business start-up project or leasehold improvement work, the commercial lease or proof of ownership.
• Two-year projected financial statements, including a two-year monthly cash budget, annual income statements, and annual balance sheets.
• Quotes for projects involving equipment acquisition or consulting services.

Who is eligible?

• Private incorporated businesses.
• Duly registered sole proprietorships and general partnerships majority-owned by Indigenous people and located in Wendake.
• Social economy enterprises, including non-profit organizations and cooperatives, carrying out mainly commercial activities.
• Independent retail businesses not affiliated with a national banner or large distribution chain and playing an important economic role in their community.
• Service businesses only for a new business opening in a vacant premises.

Who is not eligible

• Restaurants are not eligible.
• Vehicle dealerships, auto parts retailers, gas stations, collaborative tourist accommodations, and businesses operating exclusively online are not eligible.
• Applicants not discharged from bankruptcy, listed on the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts, in default on previous Ville de Québec financial assistance obligations within the previous two years, or with outstanding amounts owed to the Ville de Québec are not eligible.
• Organizations that do not meet the high integrity standards expected of a recipient of public funds are not eligible.
• Members of the National Assembly of Québec, municipal elected officials, their family members, and persons subject to the Règlement sur l’éthique et la discipline dans la fonction publique cannot benefit from the Entente de délégation du FRCN unless they comply with the applicable provisions.

Eligible expenses

• Acquisition of production, operational, or technology equipment to improve productivity or support growth.
• Professional fees, consulting services, and studies related to the company’s strategic issues.
• For a new business, rent for the first two years of the lease, if the lease was signed after the funding application was submitted and has a minimum term of 36 months.
• For a new business, marketing, promotion, and advertising campaigns for up to 6 months, and purchases of materials and equipment related to the premises for up to 6 months.
• Leasehold improvement, repair, expansion, or renovation work on the premises, as well as salaries and professional fees specifically tied to planning, designing, and implementing the business start-up project.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Regular operating costs for a private business or a social economy enterprise carrying out mainly commercial activities.
• Charitable activities and payment of volunteer resources.
• Debt payments, repayment of existing loans, or replacement of existing government support or programs.
• Expenses incurred or finalized before the date a substantially complete and compliant application file is submitted.
• Expenses intended to move a business or part of its production outside the agglomeration of Québec, unless the Ville de Québec gives written consent.

Eligible geographic areas

• Agglomeration of Québec, including the cities of Québec, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, and L’Ancienne-Lorette
• Wendake
• Quartier Saint-Roch
• Avenue Cartier
• Avenue Maguire
• Avenue Myrand
• Avenue Royale
• Chemin Sainte-Foy (Saint-Sacrement sector)
• Faubourg Saint-Jean
• Rue du Campanile
• Rue Racine
• Saint-Sauveur
• Vieux-Québec

• Viability and coherence of the project, including the realism of the financial structure.
• Organizational management capacity, referring to the relevant expertise and experience of the applicant regarding project delivery.
• Financial capacity of the applicant to successfully complete the project and achieve its objectives.
• Demonstration of the need for financial assistance.
• Quality of the support structure (if applicable).

• Contact the Service du développement économique et des grands projets before submitting a request.
• Complete all required fields in the eligibility form PDF using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
• Send the PDF form by email to degp@ville.quebec.qc.ca with Nom du requérant – Capitale-Commerce in the subject line.
• Receive an acknowledgment of receipt.
• An economic development advisor will then contact you to discuss the project’s admissibility.

• An acknowledgment of receipt is sent after the eligibility form is submitted.
• An economic development advisor then contacts the applicant to discuss the project’s admissibility.
• If admissibility is confirmed, an analysis form is sent to the applicant.
• Supporting documents are requested at that later stage and must not be attached to the eligibility form.
• The Ville de Québec uses the information provided only for file analysis purposes and keeps the financial assistance process confidential.

• Only one contribution per establishment is allowed within a five-year period.
• The maximum amount of active funding from all economic development programs of the Ville de Québec is capped at $500,000 over a two-year period, factoring all aids at 100% of their value.
• The eligibility of a project does not guarantee the granting of financial aid; final decisions depend on funding availability and needs assessment.
• If the company has outstanding amounts owed to the Ville de Québec, these will be deducted from the grant payments or may lead to compensation for taxes or penalties.