Open
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Funding available
$ 5,000 - $ 75,000
Timeline
- Open Date : August 27, 2025
Location
Quebec City, Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada
Overview
The Capitale-Commerce grant offers non-repayable contributions of up to $75,000 to support projects that diversify, improve, or sustain the commercial offering within eligible territories. Eligible activities include opening or expanding retail businesses, restaurants or service companies, equipment acquisition, productivity enhancements, strategic consulting, and creating a first corporation.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Complete an acquisition or business transfer
- Optimize production processes
- Access new markets
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 75,000 $
- Minimum amount : 5,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : August 27, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec City
- Capitale-Nationale
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 50 employees maximum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Opening or expanding a retail business, restaurant, or service enterprise.
- Acquisition of equipment or technologies to enhance productivity or support growth.
- Consulting services related to the company's strategic challenges.
- Creation of a first corporation by one or more individuals.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Private incorporated companies
- Sole proprietorships and general partnerships majority-owned by Indigenous people (located in Wendake)
- Social economy enterprises (non-profit organizations and cooperatives) conducting mainly commercial activities
- Retail businesses
- Restaurants and service businesses providing services to leisure and business tourists
Who is not eligible
- Vehicle dealerships, auto parts retailers, and gas stations.
- Businesses operating exclusively online.
- Collaborative tourist accommodations (e.g., Airbnb, Home Away).
- Applicants not discharged from bankruptcy or listed on the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
- Applicants with outstanding amounts owed to the City of Québec, or who failed to comply with previous City financial assistance agreements.
Eligible expenses
- Acquisition of production, operational, or technological equipment to improve productivity or support business growth.
- Professional fees, consulting services, and studies related to the company's strategic challenges.
- For a new business: rent for the first two years of the lease (if signed after submitting the funding application, with a minimum lease term of 36 months).
- Marketing, promotion, and advertising campaigns (up to 6 months, or up to 12 months in a designated commercial area).
- Purchase of goods and equipment related to the premises (up to 6 months, or up to 12 months in a designated commercial area).
- Leasehold improvements, repairs, expansions, or renovations of the premises.
- Salaries and professional fees for employees and consultants specifically hired for project planning, design, and implementation (not including regular operational salaries).
- Investments to sustain the activities of an existing business (only in a designated commercial area).
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
Additional information
- 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Capitale-Commerce Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Capitale-Commerce. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Capitale-Commerce?
The Capitale-Commerce grant offers non-repayable contributions of up to $75,000 to support projects that diversify, improve, or sustain the commercial offering within eligible territories. Eligible activities include opening or expanding retail businesses, restaurants or service companies, equipment acquisition, productivity enhancements, strategic consulting, and creating a first corporation.
How much funding can be received?
Capitale-Commerce Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $75,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Capitale-Commerce program?
To be eligible for the Capitale-Commerce program, you must:
Private incorporated businesses located in eligible territories
Maximum 50 full-time employees per establishment
Must operate at street level (ground floor location)
What expenses are eligible under Capitale-Commerce?
Opening or expanding a retail business, restaurant, or service enterprise.
Acquisition of equipment or technologies to enhance productivity or support growth.
Consulting services related to the company's strategic challenges.
Creation of a first corporation by one or more individuals.
Where is the Capitale-Commerce available?
The Capitale-Commerce program is available Capitale-Nationale, Quebec.
Is the Capitale-Commerce a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Capitale-Commerce is a Grant and Funding
Who are the financial supporters of the Capitale-Commerce?
Capitale-Commerce is funded by Quebec City