Open
Source verified August 4, 2026
Latest source updateLast Update: April 8, 2026Latest change: Quartier Saint-Roch is reclassified from a designated commercial territory to a regular eligible territory, reducing maximum funding from $75,000 to $25,000, and the eligibility criteria for projects are adjusted.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: April 8, 2026
Latest change: Quartier Saint-Roch is reclassified from a designated commercial territory to a regular eligible territory, reducing maximum funding from $75,000 to $25,000, and the eligibility criteria for projects are adjusted.
Capitale-Commerce program parameters updated
Effective April 7, 2026, Quartier Saint-Roch will lose its status as a « designated commercial territory » under the Capitale-Commerce program. This reclassification reduces the maximum contribution from $75,000 to $25,000 and lowers the coverage rate from 50% to 30% of eligible expenses. In addition, the minimum project cost threshold for designated territories ($5,000) has been removed; now all territories require a minimum of $15,000 in eligible expenses. The project type « contribution for the creation of a first corporation » is no longer listed among eligible projects. These changes affect eligibility criteria, funding terms, and the overall scope of the program.
Funding available
$ 35,000
Deadline
Open continuously
Opened August 27, 2025
Location
L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec City, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake, Capitale-Nationale, Quebec, Canada
Overview
Capitale-Commerce offers a non-repayable contribution of up to $35,000 for eligible commercial businesses in the Québec agglomeration and Wendake to diversify, improve, or maintain local commercial offerings in eligible territories. It supports opening or expanding a business, acquiring productivity-enhancing equipment or technologies, and strategic consulting services.
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Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase operational productivity
- Complete an acquisition or business transfer
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 35,000 $
- Up to 30% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec City, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, Wendake
- Capitale-Nationale
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- Social economy enterprise
- Non-profit
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- 50 employees maximum
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Canadians
- Startups
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Economic, Social and Community Development
Target groups
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
Revenue structures
- Mixed revenue (50%+ earned)
Scope
- Municipal
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Opening or expanding a business.
- Acquiring production, operational, or technology equipment to improve productivity or support growth.
- Using consulting services related to the company’s strategic issues.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Private incorporated businesses.
- Duly registered sole proprietorships and general partnerships that are majority-owned by Indigenous people and located in Wendake.
- Social economy enterprises, including non-profit organizations and cooperatives, carrying out mainly commercial activities.
- Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees per establishment, including local franchises with a maximum of 5 establishments.
- Independent retail businesses not affiliated with a national banner or large distribution chain, and 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, and replacement of existing government support or programs.
- Expenses incurred or finalized before the date a substantially complete and compliant application file is submitted.
- Expenses to move a business or part of its production outside the agglomeration of Québec, unless the Ville de Québec gives written consent, and the portion of GST and QST recovered from governments.
Eligible geographic areas
- The applicant’s head office must be in the Agglomération de Québec, including the cities of Québec, Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, and L’Ancienne-Lorette, or in Wendake.
- Eligible project territories include Avenue Cartier, Avenue Maguire, Avenue Royale, Chemin Sainte-Foy, secteur Saint-Sacrement, and Faubourg Saint-Jean.
- Eligible project territories also include Quartier Saint-Roch, Rue du Campanile, Rue Notre-Dame (L’Ancienne-Lorette), and Rue Racine.
- Eligible project territories also include Saint-Sauveur and Vieux-Québec.
Selection criteria
- 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).
How to apply
- 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.
Processing and Agreement
- The City will conduct a commercial mix analysis to validate project eligibility.
- Project eligibility does not guarantee that financial assistance will be granted.
- The proposed amount is based on fund availability and the evaluation of the need for financial assistance.
- Amounts owing to the Ville de Québec will be deducted from the financial assistance at the time of payments, and compensations may be taken for taxes, SDC contributions, or infractions.
Additional information
- If a business has already received a Ville de Québec subsidy under Vision entrepreneuriale Québec, it must wait until the final payment of that subsidy is received before submitting a new application; this restriction does not apply to Bourse entrepreneuriale or Bons d’accompagnement.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Capitale-Commerce Program
What is the Capitale-Commerce?
Capitale-Commerce offers a non-repayable contribution of up to $35,000 for eligible commercial businesses in the Québec agglomeration and Wendake to diversify, improve, or maintain local commercial offerings in eligible territories. It supports opening or expanding a business, acquiring productivity-enhancing equipment or technologies, and strategic consulting services.
How much funding can be received?
Capitale-Commerce Funds up to 30% of admissible expenses, capped at $35,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the Capitale-Commerce program?
To be eligible for the Capitale-Commerce program, you must:
The applicant must be a private incorporated business, an eligible social economy enterprise, or a duly registered Indigenous-owned sole proprietorship or general partnership in Wendake.
The business must be located in the agglomeration of Québec or Wendake, have 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees per establishment, and operate from a ground-floor commercial location.
Eligible sectors are independent retail businesses in an eligible territory, plus service businesses only for a new business opening in a vacant premises.
What expenses are eligible under Capitale-Commerce?
Opening or expanding a business.
Acquiring production, operational, or technology equipment to improve productivity or support growth.
Using consulting services related to the company’s strategic issues.
Who can I contact for more information about the Capitale-Commerce?
You can contact Quebec City by email at degp@ville.quebec.qc.ca or by phone at 4186416185.
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